Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up

Introduction

Everyone leads. When I began using this phrase in presentations about Public Allies and chose it as the title of this book, it provoked many questions and debates from people outside the organization.

Some asked if we really meant everyone. “Can everyone really lead?” they asked. “Or are you just talking about a certain group of people? Don't you agree that people have different levels of skills, and that some people just aren't meant to be in charge? Aren't there people who don't want to be in charge?”

Others questioned whether anything can get done if everyone feels that he or she is in charge: “Don't you have a problem with too many people feeling entitled? Do you mean that everyone has a say about everything? How is it possible ...