Leadership is something people constantly need to work on to maintain.
It’s the same as with fitness and nutrition — you can work really hard to get fit and healthy, but unless that work is continued, prioritized and monitored with self-reflection, it’s gone.
You can have all the life experience, work experience and education to be a leader, and you can be an effective and respected leader, but it doesn’t count and won’t last if it’s not maintained.
It’s a reminder of the old saying: “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” We can have goals and work toward them, but hitting the goal is only the beginning.
I was at a meeting for the Victoria-Esquimalt Police Board this week, and after the meeting, Chief Const. Del Manak said to co-chair Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins: “See you at music in the park tonight.”
Our meeting ended and board members headed out for a small social gathering, the first we’ve had since I joined the board.
Over snacks, I asked Desjardins about the music in the park event and mentioned what a busy day she had with meetings, the social event and then a community event.
Social events are fun and nice, but there is a difference between getting together with friends casually and a social business event. Both are good, but when it’s a business social, it isn’t as relaxing. At least that’s my opinion.
I asked Desjardins about music in the park and her eyes lit up about the event, the volunteers who devote time and energy to host it, and the hundreds of residents who attend each week during the summer.
I sit on three boards and have other communities and organizations I like to support with my time. Desjardins’ words reminded me that for those in leadership roles, these events and opportunities aren’t extras — they are part of their duties.
After the social, I headed to the music in the park event in Esquimalt. There were more than 200 people enjoying the live band playing. Children were playing, I could smell donuts being cooked by a vendor and everyone looked happy.
Witnessing Desjardins and Manak prioritizing these types of events and engagement made me want to do a better job with my own community involvement. Even for a volunteer board member, the duties and responsibilities are not a reflection of compensation.
To serve the community in whatever role you choose means being a part of the community.
I attended the event briefly before heading home to be with my daughter. I had been brainstorming my column for this week and after hearing Desjardins’ words, I decided it would be my column and wanted to get a photo.
She introduced me to Mike Miller, vice-president of the township community arts council, who organized the weekly event. He said: “You write for the paper — I read your column each week.”
We chatted and I thanked him. As I was walking through the field to my car, a lady reached out to shake my hand.
“Are you Charla? I read your column and I love it,” she said. Then a woman sitting a couple feet behind her said: “Yes, I love your column too.”
I thanked them both and walked to my car with a smile on my face.
It was another reminder of why we should all be more present and participate. Attending events isn’t just a service for others — it can be medicine for ourselves, too.
COVID was a hiccup, where gatherings and events were put on hold. When they came back, attendance was left up to the comfort of individuals.
It makes it easier to choose not to attend.
We can’t do everything, and there needs to be time for rest and relaxation, but this week was a reminder to me that it’s not just meetings and reports.
Leadership is about being a part of the community, celebrating the acts of others and participating.
As important as it is for each of us in our leadership roles to participate, it’s equally important to acknowledge when you see leaders engaging, participating and being present.
A good leader knows it is all important, and leadership is something that needs to be maintained.
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