Developing Qualities of the Hero

It was one o’clock in the morning. At that time of night, the 20th Century Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles is very dark. Everyone else has gone home. I am still at work, as I was the Director of Telecommunications for Fox Filmed Entertainment. It had taken me, my staff of 10, and several vendors, 3 years to re-wire 100’s of buildings to a new telephone system with thousands of end-points – telephones, fax machines, modems, recorded announcements, etc.
In leadership we are faced with options, and we can either “lean in” or “hang back”. The decision on whether to proceed, and how, is not a simple word problem or a mathematical solution. To be the hero in such a project required being present on long days, 6 days a week, leading so many meetings, tracking all the details, being interested, listening, caring, paying attention, documenting results, recognizing individual achievement…and still sporting a smile. I know that to my staff, co-workers, and vendors, I was a hero.
We have witnessed the heroic leadership of numerous legendary figures throughout history. We emulate those whose actions are so powerful that they bring change on a worldwide basis. Consider these leaders of change: Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, Amelia Earhart, Martin Luther King, Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, the painter Frieda Kahlo, computer scientist Grace Hopper, virologist Jonas Salk, social activist Harriet Tubman. These leaders are examples of heroes whose leadership improved the lives of millions by bravely confronting beliefs and mindsets. The opportunity to help others is the primary fuel that drives the would-be hero, and these heroes all “leaned in”.
Heroism requires quick thinking, assessing the facts, taking action, and communicating with clarity. I’ve asked myself can we teach “heroism” in a class, the way we teach the Spanish language, or how to weld? The Toastmasters organization answers with a “Yes!” Its educational programs develop the skills of the Hero. Our Outliers Chapter of Toastmasters is a comfortable way for members to learn planned and impromptu speech delivery, evaluation, and meeting management. Measured success is assured for everyone, no matter the level of experience and confidence. Individual mentoring is available. For more information about attending a Toastmasters meeting as our guest, please contact our VP of Education Tom Iland on 661-313-3323 or tom@thomasiland.com.
You, too, will take on the assignments that will make you a hero who will be talked about!