Welcome to today’s reflection.
Today I am reflecting on how we influence others. We all have opportunities to encourage, nurture and shape the lives of others, often without realising the difference we make.
I have held various leadership positions throughout my working life, but when I look back, the things that gave me the greatest satisfaction were not the titles; they were the people. Watching somebody develop confidence, discover an ability they didn’t realise they possessed, or grow into someone who could encourage and inspire others was much more rewarding than anything I might have achieved personally.
I suspect my working-class background had something to do with that. I grew up believing that everybody deserved an opportunity to learn, develop and make something of themselves. More importantly, I strongly believed they could. I have never been comfortable with the idea that some people are naturally destined for positions of influence while everybody else is expected to follow.
One of the things I was taught early in my career was that leadership wasn’t simply about directing people. People were entrusted to our care, and we had a responsibility to nurture them. That understanding remained with me throughout my working life and eventually shaped the way I approached ministry as a priest.
But I’ve been thinking about something else today.
Perhaps this responsibility isn’t confined to leadership at all.
