As I thought about what to write for this month’s article, I came up
against a dilemma.
On one side were the business topics, the things I “should” talk about like public speaking or managing conflict. On the other was what I most wanted to say.
I decided to listen to my gut and choose the latter. Then I received a newsletter titled, “This moment calls for something different.” That settled it.
There are moments in our personal lives and in the history of any nation that define leadership. They have little or nothing to do with politics. They have everything to do with courage and integrity.
Courage has many meanings. It can be the strength of a supportive community, moral conviction, or the quiet resolve to speak when it would be easier to stay silent. At the center of each of us lies the core of who we are. If we listen closely, we hear our truth there.
Today, that voice is often drowned out by opinions, angry posts, and fear. But every leader recognizes it when it rises. It tells us what we stand for. If we trust that intuition, it gives us the clarity we need to act.
For me, that voice is loud right now. Watching U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents round people up, break into their homes, and drag them through the streets is devastating. The detention centers tear at my soul.
As a Jewish person, I cannot believe what I am seeing. When I was young, my father showed me pictures of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. He felt a moral obligation to make me aware early, not only of that tragedy but of others throughout history. I am grateful to him.
Over many years as a leadership coach and cross-cultural practitioner, I have studied conflict extensively. I even became a registered mediator with the state of Georgia. One thing I have learned is that atrocities against humanity often share common seeds.
To be clear, the circumstances differ. Economics, resources, and culture all play a role. But we have seen the pattern: appeal to fear, identify an enemy, scapegoat them, and turn people against them. History shows this pattern again and again.
This is a defining moment. We have a choice. It is not too late to turn the tide.
It is not easy. But you do not have to lead the march to live your values. There are many ways to stand in the center of our truth. We can speak loudly or with quiet conviction. We can join a protest or offer support to vulnerable people. Some will feel able to speak up. Others may feel unsafe, and that is real. You can bring light wherever you are.
It is our obligation not only to study the tragedies of history, but to recognize, as early as possible, when we are repeating them.
It is up to each of us to decide what defines us in this moment. How you act is your choice. This is not about shame. It is about responsibility.
So I say clearly that I condemn ICE’s tactics because it needs to be said. My commitment is to offer my time in support of those directly affected.
I do not know what will come of this article, and I am at peace with that. I still serve clients from varied points of view. I have dedicated my life to difference, to valuing perspectives even when I disagree. It is my time to stand firm on this one.