Post 5 - The World Needs More Nevilles
The Harry Potter series ends with an unlikely hero. Neville Longbottom, a character unexceptional in almost every way until he reveals astonishing courage. Prior to that moment, the Neville we knew was clumsy and awkward, lacking any qualities of noteworthiness, much less greatness. And yet, it was Neville who, while leading Dumbledore's Army, made way for that defeat by destroying the final Horcrux. Without Nevlle Harry wouldn’t have defeated the Dark Lord.
In times of crisis, leadership is essential and this pandemic is no exception. There have been some extraordinary examples mixed with the crushing realization that people we thought should lead were actually unwilling or ill-equipped.
Leaders come in all shapes and sizes, but a leader is determined by more than just their resume. It’s often the person who lived outside of the limelight, who felt the pain of being an outsider, and who had to work twice as hard for their success who in the face of adversity lead with unexpected grace and courage.
Often success is defined by boldness (and sometimes brashness) and it’s often those with the audacity to challenge norms and help us progress into new territory. But there’s a different kind of leader that we often undervalue, It’s the leader who worked for the outcome and not the accolades. It’s people like Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla, the son of Holocaust survivors who bet the company on a vaccine which would either save the planet or destroy the company. It’s Eugene Goodman, outnumbered and alone, who diverted angry rioters away from Senate chambers.
Where do these leaders come from and how do we learn to better appreciate their leadership? More often than not they are a silent force who help execute a company’s vision and allow others to bask in the limelight.
Neville didn’t have the privilege of Lucius Malfoy or the lore of Harry Potter. He was raised by his grandmother with no other family to speak of. He wasn’t a star athlete. If he had one, his Twitter account would have probably been ho-hum. And yet, when it mattered most he could put the good of all before himself.
We need more Nevilles. The leaders who bring their empathy, their unconventional upbringings, their quiet diligence, and their ability to focus on what matters beyond their egos to the people and organizations they represent.
We spend so much time looking for (and recognizing) greatness that too often we forget to look for potential in unexpected people. An extraordinary leader is often overlooked simply because they do the simple and hard things without fanfare or turmoil.
I try to look for this kind of exceptional person who may seem unexceptional on paper. My goal is to develop the hidden leaders, the silent soldiers who have the substance and integrity to step up because it’s the right thing to do. In his words, when they stand up, “it gives everyone hope”.
