Leaders sometimes have to go without pizza; or at least settle for a smaller slice.
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Leadership should be more than just speaking in public regularly, having the media frequently call you to inquire your opinion on current events and being a welcomed face at high profile political and social events. Over any and everything, leadership… great leadership should be about sacrificing immediate personal gain in order to provide for a larger body or cause.
Imagine you, as the leader, call a meeting for a small group of thinkers. You provide food, because you know that’ll get them there. The pizza delivery man screws up the order and only brings one large pizza, instead of the two you ordered: WHAT DO YOU DO?
I’ve seen some leaders eat first, because they perceive that to be the proper protocol, and then they would call the pizza shop to demand the delivery person bring the other pie so that the guest don’t go hungry.
For example, when I was a church musician and would travel to other places of worship and food was being served in between services, I would always hear someone say: make sure pastor and his wife get their food first.
On several occasions, the baked chicken, rice, string beans and dinner rolls weren’t as bountiful as church officials thought, so by time the few people at the back of the line made it up to the buffet, they were getting spoonfuls of food, as if they ordered off the kids menu.
I’ve seen other leaders, great leaders in my opinion, ensure that their guests eat first – and have seconds if they choose – before fixing themselves a plate.
After the Drum Duel competition I co-organized two months ago in the courtyard of City Hall, I had opened up the green room to the drummers and performers/volunteers to break bread: two trays of subways hoagies and two cases of water.
While everyone ate, I guarded the drums and equipment until the car drove around and I could start loading. When I finally made it back to the where everyone was eating, there was just a bowl full of hot peppers left. I didn’t flip of out and have a tantrum because I didn’t eat, instead I helped clean up the table and went home and made dinner… because that’s real leadership.
The best leaders, when faced with eight people and not enough pizza, either go without or find a knife and make the slices smaller – sacrifice and problem solving, the cornerstones of great leadership.
CLICK HERE to the listen to a conversation where black male thought leaders from across the globe discuss the crisis in black leadership.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™
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Photo: quinn.anya/Flickr