Legitimacy and Agents of Change
“You see, Nina, I’m not sure I belong here. I’m afraid I won’t live up to their expectations. Who am I, really, to lead this project? I want to engage my network to transform my organization. I want products with as little negative impact as possible on the environment and society. I want to rethink how we measure commercial success. But I’m no expert. I talk about social and environmental justice, but what do I really understand about it?”
Many of my conversations with colleagues and clients go something like this. In those moments, my heart and mind are bursting with anger and outrage. My inner voice says, “But OF COURSE you’re legitimate in starting this movement and contributing to systemic change.” I know that’s a nice thing to hear. Yet it offers only faint and fleeting reassurance. So how do I get them to understand that? How do I dismantle this damn imposter syndrome that I myself know so well?”
At the risk of disappointing you, there’s no magic wand. There is, however, one inner truth: you are authentic simply by being yourself. No one can save the world—let alone on their own. However, as agents of change, you can gain influence and impact by acting in alignment with your vision, your power, your joy, and your circles of allies.
As Isabelle, an inspiring and motivating coach, once said: “Legitimacy is the trust you have in yourself. Self-confidence is an inner reservoir.”
What if we stopped waiting for external approval? It’s a really nice bonus, and yet it’s also often a bottomless pit. What if we took a deep breath and transformed this fear—“But do I have the right? Can I do this? Am I capable of starting this movement for change?”—into “It’s time to be the leader I want to be, for the world I want to see”?
Take Action Toward Change
Take a piece of paper or open a note on your phone. List at least 3 items—this list doesn't have to be exhaustive:
education or training that gives you the understanding and tools to act as an agent of change,
experiences, successes, and “failures” that have helped you learn a thing or two about managing change within a given system,
things you do so easily that you don't even realize their value,
the resources and people around you, whether close by or far away (this could be a team, a mentor, a friend, podcasts, books, and so on). These things nourish you on your journey.
All of these elements feed into your “reservoir” of trust and, therefore, your legitimacy. Do you really want to squander them? Does the world seem to you to be in good enough shape that you can afford not to contribute, no matter how small your contribution may be? It is by doing your part, in your own way, that you earn your legitimacy. What role do you want to play in the world today?
In the next article, we’ll explore the role you can play in engaging those around you to bring about systemic change. In the meantime, please share your ideas and thoughts. This is very helpful in understanding your needs and aspirations.
“‘Forevil to triumph, all it needs is the inaction of good people.’”
Do you want to become the leader you envision for the world you hope to see? Is it time to discover and assert your leadership? Do you want to embed the concepts of positive impact and purpose at the heart of your organization? Is the challenge to accelerate engagement within your ecosystem to drive systemic change?
If your answer is yes and you’d like some guidance along the way, please contact me! Here’s a link to schedule a exploratory session and the form to further explore your goals and challenges.
