Mandela Philip Thomas
Leverage is defined by what we have that is so important to the people, communities, status, or person involved in a negotiation or transaction or interaction. Whether it’s resources, influence, or ideas, they all matter.
I have worked in places where I was the only Black person, and sometimes I would be asked why I was not affected by the dynamics of other people. I smile and say it is because I created leverage to influence the decisions made there. But before we understand how leverage works, let’s start with the fundamental aspect of leverage: identity.
Identity gives us a full understanding of what we represent and how effective we are when we use that understanding. No matter how much experience or rank a person has, if there is no sense of identity, there is no sense of belonging required to do something extraordinary that creates leverage.
As a kid, being forced to learn history due to inequality and oppression, I came to realize that history often gives us position, not leverage. Because of this, we become limited in our positions without a seat at the table to make decisions.
To become a transformative or aspiring leader with great influence attached to our work, the kind of work that makes others want to follow our steps, whether running an organization, a startup, a nation, or a family, we must have emotional discipline in our extraordinary approach.
Being extraordinary is not necessarily about doing big things, but rather doing something differently, abnormally, or unfamiliar compared to the normal and familiar status quo. That is how leverage becomes the standard of our position at the table of decisions.
The purpose of having leverage is not to pick a fight with everyone, disregard other interests, or bully others at the decision table, but rather to level the outcome so everyone benefits. Being extraordinary means a leader knows the value of what they hold and how effective it is when used during decision-making.
A Strategy of Appeasement
The position of our lives determine our stages, but the leverage we have within our roles will determine how effective a system is working for everyone, including the purpose we are meant to serve as the foundation of our identity. Identity, in turn, is the foundation of all understanding regarding what we do and why we should do it, because identity comes with a true sense of leverage.
A person without identity is a person in a position without meaning. I see this throughout my leadership journey.
Position can be used as a cover-up for something more concerning, such as hiring Black people or women in certain roles to make everyone feel the organization is diversified, but ultimately controls their outcomes. This is a strategy of appeasement, not a path to real change. In contrast, leverage defines a position more effectively and equally when sitting at the table of decisions.
A person is not truly free or transformed until they have leverage in their freedom or change.
How do we gain leverage?
To gain leverage is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of yourself and others. It is to learn what they need most from you, and how dependent they are. It is also critical to understand our own weaknesses. It is our weaknesses that make us dependent on something or someone else, giving that aspect of us leverage over our decisions and how we compromise.
Africa and a few other countries sold their leverage because they misunderstood what they had and how valuable it was. When our unique value is misunderstood, we limit our ability to be part of the decision-making process.
As professionals or leaders, we must understand our ability to capitalize on our strengths. Our strengths give us leverage, and our weaknesses give others leverage over us. How we balance these two dynamics will determine whether our position in that situation becomes compromised or limited.
A World Of Clear Understanding
When I was a kid, I was curious to understand why some nations and people are poor. I came to realize it’s not the mindset that makes a person poor, because everywhere I traveled I saw great mindsets and innovation. However, these people were limited not by their ideas but by the system they operate in.
I see this playing out in history. Whether it’s Martin Luther King Jr. or Nelson Mandela’s fight for freedom for their people, I realized that in their struggle they created position, not leverage. Position is a stage, but leverage is what gives a person a seat and a decision at the table. No matter how experienced or high-ranking a person’s position is, if they have no say at the table, they are ineffective in that role or situation. History shows that their people were created a position without leverage.
One of the nations that understands this is China. China doesn’t fight for position at first, but leverage before position. Russia is catching up on understanding how the world works. The United States used to understand this, but since they started to be more idealistic and delusional, things have changed over decades. This is where the world is.
Our Celebration To Failure and Mistakes
When we celebrate something as a path to our freedom or a better life, we must pause to review the outcome. This is because, throughout history, great people who fought for a purpose did not create the leverage required to be part of decision-making, but just a position without a say.
Therefore, when we start to celebrate a position—whether appointed or elected—we must ask ourselves: How effective are we going to be? A position without a purpose is a waste of time for the people involved.
We have elected leaders of nations, organizations, and institutions that are ineffective at producing better outcomes because their position is within a system that controls both the outcome and what they do. I see this playing out in Africa, South America, Asia, and a few other countries and continents, where their leaders are powerless and controlled by two main entities (China and the West).
When you have no leverage as a leader, you are buried in a system controlled by others, not by you. As a result, your decisions become compromised and ineffective.
