Leadership and the Cheap Seats
“We might have all heard people say this, and we might have said it ourselves from time to time, which is…why is nobody doing this?…why is this not a project? I wish someone would take this thing I care about and turn it into something I can contribute to. In the community I am a part of, we have a pretty simple answer to that. I can’t wait to see you do it?” Joyce Bertram
If the comment you have just read is familiar to you because you have heard it or said it yourself sometime don’t fret. Many of us are guilty of saying or thinking something similar.
As a PT student in the mid 1980’s, I remember, regretfully now writing a letter to the then Editor of the Sports Division Newsletter, GarryLapenskie. Thinking that my letter which wascritical of the contents of the newsletter, would be regarded as such a brilliant suggestion that newsletter staff would jump at the opportunity to implement my criticism, I was actually woefully naïve at how it might have affected the volunteers who produced the newsletter. To my chagrin, Garry had my letter printed in the next newsletter so that it was there when you opened the first page. Lesson learned. And a late issued apology to Garry and the rest of the staff at that time.
Brene Brown has said, “A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance.”
Joyce Bertram’s 9 minute TED about How Volunteerism Can Change Your World offers an alternative to cheap seat commentary.
In 2014, we surveyed out membership and one of the comments was, “I think physiotherapy as a field lacks leadership and I would like to see this change.” Well, here is your chance to make that change. This link will take you to the websites of the 14 Divisions of our profession. Pick one of the divisions andstep aboard as a volunteer. A warning though, hold on…because it’s going to be one hell of a ride.
“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both.Brene Brown
From the practice fields…
Joe Putos, PT
Chair, Leadership Division
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Looking for Professional Development opportunities about Leadership for your staff or colleagues?We have an innovative three part leadership development series that we can bring to your site.
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