How can leaders help address inequalities through inspiring role models? Even if you are not like the people you want to inspire. I wanted to share this story and my observations on the powerful role of role models in changing group dynamics and inspiring social innovation to address social inequalities.
Role Models for Leading Social Impact
The social impact of role models can’t be underestimated. It reaches the places other approaches cannot reach. I write this a few days after England’s women football team ‘The Lionesses’ won the European Championship. It was special to me because I am a co-organiser of a large football meetup and we have a group of female players. I could see what a delight and inspiration the female footballers were to them throughout the tournament. Not just for their success, but the challenges they overcame getting there. Women’s football has been very much a minority sport in the UK.
Inspiration Leads to More Inspiration
The England players said they found inspiration from the struggles of the players that came before them. They were the true pioneers who were never taken seriously compared to the ‘proper football’ of the men’s game. They also played while holding down day jobs as dentists or health care assistants. Like their male counterparts, the England ladies team has a story of traumatic near misses rather than successes. The current generation were united by the inspiring legacy of their predecessors to right the wrongs of the past. Inspiration leads to more inspiration.
Without Inspiring Role Models Inequality is the Norm.
Even in our football group, women only make up about 5% of our group of our players. So they are very much a minority. Despite our best efforts leading the group and much to my frustration, I’m acutely aware that they constantly have to put up with prejudices and stereotyping that come from football being a source of male machismo for the last 150 years.
In our group, most of it has been subtle and irregular. It may come in the form of paternalistic patronising comments. We have banned someone for it but often it can be very much more subtle. Sometimes people ignore their presence, not passing them the ball or complaining their team is ‘weak’ which just happens to have more females in it than the opposition. It is not common, but it does happen. We have over 1000 people involved in our club. Whilst we explicitly emphasise inclusion and equality and we have female organisers too, even then, it is very difficult to enforce. Whilst as leaders of the group we can try and correct issues, without role models it is difficult to establish a different way.
Inspiration Role Models That Create a New Story.
I recognise the ladies who play as part of our group, and play with us despite the prejudiced stereotypes and preconceptions of some of the male players. I’m very thankful they do. In my opinion, the ladies seem to be more thoughtful, emphasise using skills at the right time more, and value the success of the team and the group more than individual ‘showing off’. Seeing our ladies now being so inspired, by the success of the Lionesses and knowing that they can finally now take real pride in being female players shows the power of role models to change the story. That inspiration is a source of change and a source of power and that’s what I believe in. It is good for them and it is good for us all.
Leading Social Impact, from ‘the other side’
Being a leader who is from ‘the other side’ I cannot be an inspiration or role myself. I can’t say I ‘know what it’s like’, because I can’t. However, I’ve found it best to accept my role needs to be different and instead is to create a space for other role models to emerge by establishing the shared values and behaviours that create an enabling space for them. Giving them status and a voice as part of the group. I can let myself be inspired by them and celebrate their inspiration by telling their story. Maybe one day the boys will complain they don’t have enough women on their team. If the ladies can stay united and inspired and keep growing they will get better and that really could happen.
Emerging Social Impact Role Models
I don’t think you can ever guarantee that role models will emerge to inspire people. Social inequalities are like a whirlpool that sucks the unwilling in and it is incredibly difficult to escape from. When people do find role models or demonstrate values and ideas themselves that make progress against the inequalities or challenge stereotypes it is vitally important to celebrate their success and progress and share their stories. It is rarely something achieved in one step but in the multiple small progress of many and just occasional the big strides of a few will emerge.
Leading and Role Modelling For Social Change
As a leader, I think it is vital to role model the behaviours and values needed for progress. If you are part of the minority it can give you an authentic voice. However, if you are from the majority group its important to give space and credibility, and support to others. You must observe and discourage the negative and emphasise and gain momentum to the positive. The reality is that you are fighting something much bigger than you and not something you can ever control. You have to stay calm with the disappointments and frustrations, sometimes over a long period of time, and maintain hope and belief that things will get better and together one day we can achieve true social change.
Creating Social Impact Through Leading as a Role Model.
Acting as a good front line leader can be critical in creating social impact. Not least as a role model. You normalise the behaviour for those around. Over time with consistency and integrity you can instil the set of behaviours that can become it’s own social movement. Your behaviour represents you as well as the group you are part. But role modelling can go the other way people can see when you are not consistent or say one thing and act in another. Therefore role modelling behaviour is foundation for building trust and relationships. Trust and relationships are critical for building social movements and building social impact.
Conclusion
The power of inspiring role models in addressing social inequalities is undeniable, as evidenced by the story of the Lionesses and their impact on women in football. Leaders need to understand their role in creating a supportive environment that encourages emerging role models to flourish, while also demonstrating their commitment to the values and behaviours needed for progress. Sometimes that can mean just creating the space for others to feel safe and express themselves. As we celebrate the achievements of those who defy the odds and fight against inequality, let us all strive to be role models in our own right, harnessing the transformative potential of inspiration to create lasting social impact.
Learn to create change that flows: Discover more at edgeofpossible.com
Question for Leaders:
How are you creating a space for new role models to emerge, any tips you can share?
Other relevant articles:
Social Projects: A Complete Guide.