S. L. Young's (www.slyoung.com) presentation at the Northern Virginia Community College's "2nd Annual Soul Food Dinner" on 2/24/15. Title: Leadership, Leaders, and Our Responsibilities to Continue the Journey Toward Equality Description: This discussion was prepared for black history month; however, the focus of this presentation is about the importance of individual leadership --- for themselves and others. During the presentation, historical and emerging black leaders are acknowledged for their contributions, along with discussions about the use of different leadership styles (active and passive) to achieve goals and objectives. Also, the importance of different relationship types, mentors, and individuals’ responsibility to "PUSH" forward are also discussed.

1. Leadership, Leaders, and Our
Responsibilities to Continue the Journey
Toward Equality
S. L. Young
Author, Blogger on The Huffington Post,
Business Professor, and Inspirational Speaker
Northern Virginia Community College
“2nd Annual Soul Food Dinner”
2/24/15
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2. OVERVIEW
This discussion will focus on:
Leadership – What is it?
Notable Black Leaders
Leadership Considerations
Relationship Types
Importance of Mentors
Your Responsibility to “PUSH” Forward
Parting Thoughts
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3. SESSION EXPECTIONS
Participants should:
Be engaged with the discussions
Identify takeaways
Support each others’ learning
Be excited to learn!
Have fun!
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4. MY BACKGROUND
Former at-risk student who was directed to leave high
school in the 10th grade
Graduate of the American and The George Washington
Universities
Over 10 years working in Fortune 500 companies
working in: Billing, Engineering, Finance, Marketing,
Operations, Product Development, and more
Dreamt of being a writer; realized this dream with 13
published books and becoming a Huffington Post blogger
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5. QUESTION
What is leadership?
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6. LEADERSHIP DEFINED
Leadership – an ability to develop,
communicate, and execute a vision
that inspires individuals to action ---
including yourself
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7. QUESTION
Who are some of the historical leaders
within the black community?
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8. BLACK LEADERS
TYPICALLY IDENTIFIED
Harriett Tubman – escaped slavery and
helped others to do the same
Malcolm X – an outspoken advocate
without apologies
Martin Luther King, Jr. – led successful
non-violent protests to change minds and
drive societal changes
Rosa Parks – refused to give her seat on
a bus to a white person as required by law
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9. OTHER NOTABLE
BLACK LEADERS
Dorothy Height – a civil and woman’s rights
advocate who was the president of the National
Council of Negro Women for about 40 years
Charles Hamilton Houston – a legal strategist
who masterminded the legal challenge against
“separate but equal”
Thurgood Marshall – won the landmark case of
“Brown v. Board of Education” that eliminated
“separate but equal” --- and the first black
Supreme Court Justice
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10. EVEN MORE NOTABLE
BLACK LEADERS
Ralph Abernathy
Benjamin Banneker
Mum Bett
Ruby Bridges
Johnnie Carr
Shirley Chisholm
W.E.B. Du Bois
Frederick Douglass
Medgar Evers
Marcus Garvey
Coretta Scott King
John Lewis
Mary Mahoney
Jesse Owens
Homer Plessy
James T. Rapier
Jackie Robinson
Dred Scott
Fred Shuttlesworth
Sojourner Truth
Booker T. Washington
Ida B. Wells
Sources: http://www.biography.com/people/groups/activists-civil-rights-activists
http://www.biography.com/people/groups/activists-civil-rights-activists-female
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11. EMERGING BLACK LEADERS
Janet Mock – a transgendered activist who
educates black communities about Lesbian, Gay,
Bi-sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) issues
Brittany Packnett – emerged from the Ferguson,
MO protects after serving as a liaison between
protesters and politicians to drive changes
Phillip Agnew – a battle tested political and social
activist (for the past decade) on a variety of civil
rights issues
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Source: http://time.com/3668782/12-faces-of-black-leadership

12. LEADERSHIP STYLES MATTER
Comparison between Martin Luther King’s
and Malcolm X’s leadership:
Different approaches and communication styles,
but similar goals
Leaders understand that different strategies and
methods can be used to achieve goals and
objectives
The environment and culture are important
factors to determine an approach that can be
used to inspire individuals to action
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13. QUESTION
What type of leadership is preferred:
active or passive?
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14. ANSWER
What type of leadership is preferred:
active or passive?
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It depends on the individual(s), environment,
goal(s), objective(s), and desired outcome(s)

15. LEADERSHIP – IT’S NOT THIS
Leaders don’t:
Wait for things to happen
Identify issues without helping with solution
development and resolution
Think all the answers are already known
Remain distant from their workers
Disrespect their workers
Ignore the value of their worker’s contributions
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16. LEADERSHIP – IT’S THIS
Leaders:
Create, communicate, and execute their vision
Set high expectations --- for everyone
Ensure their teams and team members have
the necessary support
Inspire others to reach greater heights
Demonstrate visible support
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17. THE ENVIRONMENT MATTERS
Environmental knowledge is important:
Every environment has its own personality
Individuals are dynamic and don’t always
react or respond in a similar manner
Successes in an environment don’t allows
translate to another
Once you think you understand it, it changes
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18. THE ENVIRONMENT MATTERS
Environmental knowledge is important:
Every environment has its own personality
Individuals are dynamic and don’t always
react or respond in a similar manner
Successes in an environment don’t allows
translate to another
Once you think you understand it, it changes
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Leaders understand these
challenges and make adjustments

19. QUESTION
What words do you use to describe
your personal and business relationship
types?
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20. QUESTIONABLE
RELATIONSHIP TYPES
Appendage
Conditional
Counterfeit
Evaluative
Fair-Weather
Leech
Occasional
Negative
Noncommittal
Situational
Spiteful
Toxic
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www.beyondsprh.comSource: http://www.slyoung.com/friendship-types.html

21. POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIP TYPES
Cheerleader
Goodtime Charlie
Kindred Spirit
Strategist
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www.beyondsprh.comSource: http://www.slyoung.com/friendship-types.html

22. DESIREABLE MENTORS
Mentors needed are those who are:
Committed to your development
In your field
e.g., accounting, information technology, marketing
In your specialty
e.g., asset management, network security, promotions
Outside of your organization
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23. QUESTION
What is the significance of the expression
“crabs in a barrel”?
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24. UNDERSTANDING
“CRABS IN A BARREL”
“Crabs in a barrel” – an adage about the
behavior of crabs trapped in a barrel; if
one tries to escape, then the others will
reach up, grab it, and pull it back down
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25. UNDERSTANDING
“CRABS IN A BARREL”
“Crabs in a barrel” – an adage about the
behavior of crabs trapped in a barrel; if
one tries to escape, then the others will
reach up, grab it, and pull it back down
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A dangerous mentality that if I can’t
make it, you shouldn’t make it either

26. WORKPLACE CHALLENGES
Challenges for minorities in the workplace:
Lack of minority representation in senior positions
Different performance standards / expectations
Discrimination
Workplace bullying
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27. AN ORGANIZATION’S
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Examine an organization’s diversity by:
Considering the representation of minorities
in a company’s executive leadership
Reviewing the quantity and placement of
minorities in management positions
Examining the representation of minorities on
teams
Researching the availability of developmental
and mentoring opportunities for minorities
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28. DISCOVER YOUR PATH
Understand that leaders:
Don’t seek to fail, but aren’t afraid of it
Take chances and know the best times to
attempt calculated risks
Aren’t afraid of others’ abilities, intelligence,
or accomplishments
Don’t make excuses
Drive solutions
Actively work to create futures --- for
individuals and their organizations
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29. REMEMBER…
Leadership begins with you, along with
your ability to:
control
drive, and
push yourself
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30. CHANGE THE PARADIGM
Actively work to promote diversity:
Love yourself
Celebrate your and others uniqueness
Don’t discount others positive pursuits
Be aware of and engage with minority groups
--- not at the exclusion of the majority groups
Work with others to achieve greater goals and
measureable objectives
Celebrate everyone’s accomplishments
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31. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Believe in yourself to be able to:
Get to know yourself
Be proud of your heritage
Not accept others’ limitations of or for you
Don’t be jealous of others’ successes
Continue to challenge yourself
Help others on their journey
Have fun and celebrate everyone’s success!
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32. THINGS TO CONSIDER
Your contributions (positive and negative) impact
others
Choose wisely the way your energy is used and
your time is allocated
Don’t settle for less than you’re capable to achieve
Don’t be afraid to push your perceived limits
Nobody does anything alone
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33. LET’S START THE WORK NOW
I see you!
I believe in me and you!
I support my efforts and yours!
I wish the best for you and me!
Good Luck to all of us!
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34. PARTING THOUGHT #1
At times, individuals must step-away,
step-back, or step-up:
step-away if you gave it your best and you
don't have more to give
step-back to regroup to try it again later
step-up to make a positive difference for
yourself and others
---- S. L. Young
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35. PARTING THOUGHT #2
DO IT FOR YOU:
Do it for you, even though others may question it
Do it for you, while others don’t understand it
Do it for you, while others may challenge it
Do it for you, even if you don’t completely
believe it’s possible
Do it for you, especially if your effort will also
help others
Do it for you, because positive change starts
with you
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www.beyondsprh.comSource: It’s a Crazy World…Learn From It / Part IV: The Journey Continues

36. PARTING THOUGHT #3
ROADMAP TO SUCCESS…
Dream (of possibilities)
Desire (to do more)
Determination (fueled by belief)
Drive (to get through the tough times)
Decisiveness (to make decisions)
Dedication (to achieve the dream)
© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC
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www.beyondsprh.comSource: It’s a Crazy World…Learn From It / Part I: Taking Care of Me

37. PARTING THOUGHT #4
PURSUE UNRESTRICTED SUSTAINED
HAPPINESS (PUSH):
Push yourself to complete a task
Push yourself beyond your past
Push yourself to explore many doors
Push yourself to achieve even more
Push yourself to get a different view
Push yourself to become your best you
© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC
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www.beyondsprh.comSource: It’s a Crazy World…Learn From It / Part IV: The Journey Continues

38. PARTING THOUGHT #5
Your candle is fueled from within, so don’t
let anyone reduce or block your fuel to
maximize its brightness
---- S. L. Young
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39. IN CLOSING…
BELIEVE IT’S POSSIBLE!
ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY!
BE YOUR BEST!
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40. VIDEO OF THIS
PRESENTATION
www.slyoung.com/leadership-thoughts.html
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41. CONTACT INFORMATION
Beyond SPRH, LLC:
Website: www.beyondsprh.com
Email: info@beyondsprh.com
S. L. “Sly” Young:
Personal Website: www.slyoung.com
Personal Email: info@slyoung.com
HuffPost Blog: www.huffingtonpost.com/s-l-young
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