I’M OUT OF TOWN ON VACATION SO I’D LIKE TO SHARE A GUEST POST THIS WEEK. THIS WEEKS MIBE MESSAGE COMES FROM KRYSTAL HOEFT, OUR CONTROLLER AND ONE OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBERS AT FOOTERS. ENJOY!

Yesterday was election day, and what a big day for our country and for our democracy. It is possible that every one of us will vividly remember this time in our lives and this incredibly contentious presidential race.

As if going through a global pandemic and social and civil unrest isn’t hard enough, so many of us have felt the political polarization and division within our families, communities, or perhaps just occupying our social media feeds. This topic really resonates with me personally as I come from a very divided political family, have friends who have very strong and opposing political views, and to be honest, I have felt frustrated with our political process and the two candidates we ultimately have as our choices.

No matter your affiliation I would hope we can all agree, that we as Americans, have more in common than not, and if we seek to understand instead of being understood, this will help us find the common ground that our society so desperately needs.

The differences in opinion right now isn’t just dealing with your friend preferring vanilla ice cream and you preferring chocolate. There are much stronger convictions about the topics and issues at hand and as a result, people are drawing moral lines in the sand tied to strong emotions, which then make people unwilling to compromise and work together. 

I was personally struggling one evening at the dinner table with a family member who had very strong opposing views, which ultimately made me stop interacting with him.  I wondered, “how in the world could he could think the way he does?”, or “was I wrong for thinking the way I did?”. He clearly saw things from a different perspective than I, and I was fortunate to have had an “a-ha moment”. I found a commonality in knowing we both are coming from a place of passionately loving our country, and for ultimately wanting the best for our family and friends. Putting myself in his shoes was a game changer for me, and has since allowed me to find common ground, and has helped me understand that we see the world differently right now because we are having a different life experiences.

It takes courage to show up and connect with people, especially with those of strong opposing views.  But we have a responsibility as leaders to not buy into the separation, the right or wrong, the black or white, and to not alienate others who have different views. When we choose to disengage with people who believe in opposite viewpoint’s, not only do we add to the division ourselves, but we miss out on the opportunities for our own personal growth.  

Leading with love means giving others the benefit of the doubt, being open-minded to differences, and genuinely appreciating other perspectives. If we could all take the time to seek the bonds that unify us instead of stoking the fires of division, we all have the power to help create a better future.

So again, my message to you today is to lead with love and to find common ground during these divided times, you never know the impact you may be making on those around you. Let’s take care of each other, and make our own self-care our number one priority, because you can’t pour from an empty cup.

*Each week I share a leadership message with our team and we are honored to share it with you via MIBE Tribe. MIBE (the acronym for Make It Better Everyday) Tribe delivers education on heart leadership and intentional culture building for the hospitality industry.