Leadership Reflections on the Riots in Baltimore

My sister, who lives in Massachusetts, was supposed to visit my mother and I this weekend. She canceled her visit due to anxiety around the violence that was occurring in my neighboring city of Baltimore: a very minor, yet one of many casualties from this weeks’ events. I will admit to being transfixed by live coverage on TV of what was happening within a thirty-minute ride from my home. My prevailing emotion was sadness for my city; my community; for those impacted near and far by this violence and disrespect.  I was touched by the excerpt below written by a police officer:

“I stopped caring today because parents refuse to teach their kids right from wrong and blame us when they are caught breaking the law. I stopped caring today because parents tell their little kids to be good or “the police will take you away” embedding a fear from year-one.  I stopped caring today as no one wants us around, but instantly demands answers, results, arrests, when a crime takes place. If a crime isn’t solved within the allocated 60 minutes it takes CSI on television, we are inept, incompetent, or covering something up. Yes, I stopped caring today. But tomorrow, I will put my uniform back on and I will care again.”     Written by Lt Daniel Furseth, DeForest, Wisconsin Police Department
 
There are no lack of opinions around who is to blame for this complex situation, and I am reminded of the challenges so many face in organizations and systems, around accountability.  As I work with leaders, it is a complaint often heard. What can we do to inspire sustainable change?  Here are my thoughts on possibilities: 

1. As evidenced by the intractable and sadly enduring history of ongoing discrimination, poverty, and violence, this is a complex problem and will not be solved easily. As Margaret Meade so wisely said, this will take a village.
2. If we seek to blame someone, then we must first look in the mirror. What are we doing to be part of the solution and not part of the problem? How are we judging without considering other’s perspectives? It’s all too easy to judge inner city kids, without walking in their shoes. I have had one small experience with being treated as if I were guilty, without any opportunity to comment. I felt the rage within me that could have, given the right circumstances, prompted me to violence. What we hate in others, if we have the courage to look, we find in ourselves.
3. Practice empathy and compassion. Take an “empathy walk” where your goal is only to understand another’s perspective. Be open to the story you hear, without judgment, having compassion for another’s plight. Engage them in problem-solving. It’s OK if you don't have an answer. As it is so often with leadership, true leadership is not about always having the answers - it's more often about asking the right questions.
4. Act! My prayer is that you act with your time and humanity, in addition to money you may choose to give. Your example is needed and speaks louder than monetary donation.

We would be remiss to think this is a Baltimore problem. This is our society’s problem. I commit to being part of the solution. I hope you will join me.