Occupy and the L Word

Occupy and the L Word

In General Assemblies across the country it is continually made clear that we are a movement without leaders. In response to this there have been multiple calls from the 1% for us to name leaders who can negotiate in the name of Occupy. This is a clear attempt to defeat Occupy by co-opting its leadership. We are well served by continuing our focus on the consensus process in any and all decision-making.

It is time, however, that we take a long look at our need for leadership skills in the projects we engage in. We need not demonize those who put themselves forward as possessing leadership qualities. Instead of marginalizing these individuals we should embrace them and put their skills to work in support of action items arrived at through the consensus process. Our cause can and will succeed without leaders, but not without Leadership!

It is this idea of “collective leadership” that holds great promise for Occupy. Across this country small Occupy camps look to the larger organizations for leadership in direction, tone and idea development. Occupy Wall Street, LA, Oakland and others are in a position of collective leadership of the movement as a whole whether they embrace this role or not. With leadership comes responsibility and the need to develop a broader prospective. For too long we as a movement have prided ourselves on our lack of leaders at the expense of development of leadership skills within this Occupation.

Photo OCCUPY BISBEE AZ

As someone who has been in a leadership position in a national consensus based organization with a long history, I would suggest that we as a group consider leadership skills as something that will help us obtain our goals. Indeed the organization I am part of could not have survived for 30 years without the leadership skills that many of its members lend to the group.

Should we continue to be leader phobic? Yes, yet it is time to embrace leadership skills in communication, logistics, publishing, and many other areas. Leadership need not be a four-letter word!