THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

This past weekend, I attended my first Supreme Leadership Summit and I can, without hesitation, say it shifted something in me. It was more than a conference. It was a mirror. A challenge. A call.

I’d like to think I’m usually a master of words, but this experience was so good that I’m honestly afraid what follows will sound like an overexcited ramble. I did try though 😂 so if it gets passionate… blame the ADHD 😅😂.

There were a few thing that stood out to me and I want to share them with you.

What Must the Organization Give Up?

We were asked, “What does the organization need to give up in order to grow?”

Whew.

The answers were honest.

My group said we must give up silence (that’s a whole separate blog or lecture 🙃), but across the room, one thing kept surfacing... Leaders and longtime members HAVE to stop saying,“That’s the way it’s always been.”

The statement doesn't teach anyone anything.

It doesn't offer a chance for mentorship.

It's not even empowering.

What it does do is shut down curiosity (unless you're like me and don't care to making people uncomfortable).

It really feels like when your mama used to say, “Because I said so.” And, again, if

you’re like me, you start wondering

whether the person saying it even knows the answer (cue childhood flashbacks of me being backhanded for  asking my mom if she knew the answer and was just too prideful to admit it 😩.)

Growth requires explanation. Growth requires teaching. Growth requires space for questions.

And that led us to a deeper question.

Who Are We REALLY???

One major theme echoed throughout the summit...

WE MUST STAND OUT.

Masonry predates all Greek organizations. Yet people can easily explain who Deltas, AKAs, or Kappas are but still ask, “What is an Eastern Star?” (bombastic side eye)

If we do not define ourselves clearly, the community will define us inaccurately. And when that happens, we end up being the illuminati, devil worshipers, or whatever creative nonsense people think of.

But standing out is not just about visibility but everything to do with identity, alignment, and moving in a way that reflects who we say we are.

And here’s the hard truth:

If we are still hiding behind “that’s the way it’s always been,” then we are also hiding from the responsibility of defining who we are now.

That thought gave way to a later conversation that asked "Why I lead?" (or why I wanted to in the first place)...

One of my favorite quotes is by Tupac and it says "I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world." And I say I want to lead because I am crazy enough to know for a fact that I can make a difference and that's not about a title or recognition. But it's everything to do with my belief that the Order has the power to change our communities.

But do we move like we know that, COLLECTIVELY?

When you think about the history of the Order and Masonry in general, it was built to elevate and support families and communities. But elevation requires more than meetings, it requires mobilization. It requires intention. It requires strategy.

WE HAVE TO MOBILIZE!!!

We have to be visible in our communities with intentionality. Showing up once a year to pass out Easter baskets or backpacks is not enough if there’s no real connection.

If we don’t know the names of the people we’re serving, and we’re not building relationships, is it really service?

Service without relationship is just an event with little to no real impact.

And that is where leadership comes in.

Because leadership is more about translating mission into movement and less about maintaining tradition because "that's how it's always been."

We have to be visible in our communities with intentionality and showing up once a year to pass out Easter baskets or backpacks isn't enough if there's no real connection. If we don't know the names of the people we're serving and we're not building relationships is it really service? Service without relationship is just an event with little to no real impact.

And this is not theoretical for me because I see this principle in action every single day.

I work for a nonprofit diaper bank (shoutout to Nashville Diaper Connection) that operates through a partner network that distributes diapers. BUT, to become a partner, organizations must do more than just give diapers away.

Why?

Because if a person needs diapers, more than likely, they need more than diapers.

If you’re only there to hand someone a pack of diapers and send them on their way, how do you ever get to their why?

How do you know they don’t have money because they’ve never been taught financial literacy and you happen to be a financial advisor?

How do you know they dropped out of school as a teen mom and you offer a free GED program?

How do you know any of that if you don’t actually connect? You don’t.

You don’t discover real need without conversation. You don’t uncover potential without relationship.

At the summit, we played a game called UNITY which was basically people bingo. You couldn’t complete your card without talking to people. Without conversation, you wouldn’t know what someone had to offer or what they needed.

That’s a leadership lesson and not just a game.

The same is true in service.

If we are only providing what is visible on the surface, how are we truly serving? If we never ask deeper questions, how do we ever discover someone’s why?

Leadership requires us to go deeper. And that’s why I want to lead. Because I see what happens when strategy meets passion.

At the diaper bank, I see structure in action. I see systems that allow compassion to scale. I see how intentional partnerships multiply impact.

Impact is not accidental.

The things we say we want like growth in membership, stronger chapters, personal development do not happen by chance. They happen through connection and when people DO THE WORK.They happen when members are allowed to grow within the Order and outside of it and then bring that growth back to subordinate chapters and lodges. And THEN you see the impact ripple into the neighborhoods around us.

That is how influence is built.

I want us to be just as impactful as Greek organizations and not because we want comparison or a competition, but because we understand our capacity.

And I will not sit back and hope things improve.

I will help move them forward.

The Art of Presence

And lastly, I have to speak about the MC, Cherlyn James Brightmon.

Because after everything we discussed about identity, mobilization, and connection, she modeled something just as important.

Presence.

Twelve WHOLE full hours.

Flawless flow.

Confidence.

Poise.

Grace.

BEAUTY!!!

If that woman was stressed, exhausted, frustrated, or even needed a break she n e v e r let it show.

That’s an art.

And it reminded me that leadership isn’t just about ideas, strategy, or vision. It is about presence.

It is about managing the room, holding space, carrying energy and regulating yourself so that pressure doesn’t spill onto the people you’re leading.

Because when leaders are chaotic, the room becomes chaotic. But when leaders are grounded, focused, and intentional the room follows.

That is discipline.

That is preparation.

That is mastery.

And that, too, is part of the art of leadership.

Thank you, Sister Brightmon, for modeling that in real time!!!

In conclusion...

Leadership is not a title, or a seat, or longevity. It is vision, responsibility, courage, strategy, relationship, and presence.

The art of leadership is knowing when to speak, when to step side, when to mobilize, when to connect, and when to build bridges instead of walls.

It is knowing who we are, refusing to hide behind tradition, choosing conversation over silence, and moving like we understand the weight and the power of this magnificent Order.

If we truly believe in its potential, then we must lead like we know it.

Not someday.

NOW!!!

☺️RW