Inspired by Norwich Cathedral!

Last week I was looking around the new parts of the Norwich Cathedral Building – The Reflectory!! What a terrific example of modern architecture responding and respecting what has been in place for many hundreds of years. The Cathedral is an iconic building in Norwich. It is a focus point for all kinds of reasons including religion, history, tourism, community, education and sport. With the recent improvements, restorations and new building, the Cathedral has added a local food focus and new ways for the community to use the buildings as place to meet and exchange and share ideas. It struck me that like so many organisations the Cathedral has a clear and obvious primary purpose, but by making the best of its resources (both people and buildings) it has been able to position itself at the very heart of the community it is striving to serve (as well as playing a big part in marketing Norwich which I have written about before). Perhaps there are many organisations that could actually use the Cathedral as a great example of stakeholder engagement!

During the day which was another Common Purpose module, we considered the individual as a leader, their role, and the need for leaders to take that step from owning ideas or visions to making a journey with commitment and tangible steps and actions. In a way I think everyone is a leader of at least one. People may struggle with all kinds of management theory or behaviour techniques in order to try and win the opportunity to lead larger groups of people with more influence or responsibility, but how often do people perhaps in doing that neglect their own personal leadership requirements?

During the day we met a range of inspiring leaders, all of whom had personal experiences that forced them to move from thinking about something into taking action. So what could or sometimes does hold people back from taking this step, is it fear, a lack of knowledge, not knowing how or where to start? Some, all and probably more of the above – it will be a different set of factors for anyone in that position. But perhaps the thing in common is needing to take that first step and recognising you are in that moment. In that moment it is not about leading or inspiring others, it is about deciding to lead yourself, finding the inspiration and confidence to take that first step.