Oh boy, has 2019 been a helluva ride!
Audrey Zander • December 31, 2019

8 minutes, 46 seconds of silence followed by chants of ‘I can’t breathe’ by 25,000 people for George Floyd in Munich yesterday. Emotions, tears, love, compassion, empathy, and education by the stories shared on stage by black women and men of all ages. Anger, shame, awakening and action. At last. Over four centuries late. I, as hopefully many, have been shocked out of my numbness and silence this past week. Until then, I hid behind my safety blanket of not being racist. Not having known what to do about the blatantly obvious racism existing over the world is not an excuse. I have been aware of my white privilege for as long as I can remember even if I couldn’t put it into words until the last few years. I have lived and either studied or worked in America, France, and England ffs. Of course, I have witnessed racism. Anyone stating the contrary needs to wake up, look around, eat a massive slice of humble pie, and educate themselves. It is embarrassing, shameful. I am deeply ashamed. Initially, I thought best to keep silent and leave the platforms open for black voices to be heard. That is still the priority. I also didn’t know what to say, how to express how I felt, and was scared to offend or cause hurt by how I say things. However, if there is one thing that I have already learned this past week, it is that staying silent, comforted by my personal knowledge that I am not racist, is hypocritical. How on earth is that any help to anyone? And how dare I hide behind my discomfort of addressing all this because I may find it uncomfortable and fear saying the wrong thing? That there again, is white privilege. How will I learn if I don’t ask and open the conversation? I want to be told if I say something offensive to anyone, and even more so if I say something racist or act in such a way. I have also learned the notion of not being racist vs. being actively anti-racist and am whole-heartedly embracing it. I understand that I do not understand. That I never fully will. I vow to keep educating myself and take on my part of responsibility in evoking change and doing better. I vow to speak up and raise awareness. Let this only be the beginning. “ No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin, or their background, or their religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite .” Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

As a leader, are you aiming to be the Head Coach or the Star Player? Beware of the difference. Many a manager leads with their ego and confuses themselves as the Star Player wanting to stand in the spotlight when showtime comes, leaving their team in the shadows - when it should be the other way around.