Recently I was feeling like the strong link in a long chain composed of some weak links on either side of mine. I realized that some of the stress I was feeling was a result of my largely unconcious efforts to be ever stronger in order to compensate for the weaker links that I was chained to ….
Once this metaphor came to mind, I realized that of course strengthening me, my own link, would not really strengthen the total chain, in fact in might even have the opposite effect, creating more tension and pressure on the weaker links.
Is there a way I can use my expertise and relationships to pass strength and skills along the chain in order to strengthen the other links? This seems a more effective, in fact the only effective way for me to influence and strengthen the myraid chains of which I choose to be a part.
How do we as leaders, and links, mobilize and share our expertise in order to create strength and capacity in the links that we depend on and that depend on us? This metaphor most accurately describes the groups I am a part of. I am a necessary, indespensible, valuable link, depended on by and dependent on many other strong, capable links. I feel both support and responsibility when I recognize the inherent and critical interdependence of relationships in my work, my life and in our very existence on our precious planet.
Amy
Dear Amy
‘Links in a chain’ is a great metaphor of our inherent interdependence. Thanks for posting and for making me think.
Your wanting to use your expetise and relationships to help other links is certainly an effective way of strengthening them but it is by no means “the only effective way”. At best, the other links will become as strong as you are, and in the ways you are strong. This relationship resembles one of the ‘haves’ giving to the ‘have-nots’; a package the ‘strong’ delivers to the ‘weak’. What about the strengths and talents (latent or apparent) the weak links have?
I’m inclined to think the chain really gets stronger when there’s a spirit of learning from each other, of reciprocity, of collaboration and of personal and shared responsibility.
Thanks for being a part of the chain, Amy.