Higher Living Leadership: Influence Societal Design as an Instrument of Justice

By Dr. Melodye Hilton

Higher Living Leaders live authentically and passionately through embracing their personal value and power to positively transform cultures. The way of Higher Living Leadership is rich in value for leaders of all spheres of influence. Dr. Melodye Hilton has developed and packaged a series of concepts and principles from years of experience in training and consulting powerful leaders. Individuals are guided to discover their validation quotient-the attributes that unleash personal leadership value, generate it in others, and positively transform culture. Whether leading a small family or an entire nation, this values-driven content is excellently presented in a balance of relevant information and practical application that can revolutionize the way you view and apply leadership. In this book, Dr. Hilton reveals the practical steps to: Discover and operate out of your intrinsic value and be empowered to recognize it in those around you Realize the effects your thoughts and choices have on your brain, body, and the fulfillment of your purpose, and make a positive change today Discover your personal purpose that determines your decisions and how your life will make an impact Employ Higher Thinking through continued development of the mind, purposeful choice, and values-driven self-management Become an authentic leader establishing trust naturally in your sphere of influence It's time for powerful leaders to be released shifting and redefining the culture in and around them! If you're ready to raise the bar of leadership and become a Higher Living Leader, this book is for you!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Jan 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781478785644

Dr. Melodye Hilton

Dr. Melodye Hilton works with individuals as well as workgroups around the globe as a Leadership Consultant, Certified Behavioral Consultant, and Executive Team and Personal Coach. Through years of leadership experience and consulting, she has developed a unique and personal approach to creating a positive, sustainable impact within her spheres of influence.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Culture is a reproducible system of beliefs that shape the actions of individuals. It communicates to others what are, and are not acceptable beliefs and actions. Culture tells you what is right or wrong and what you must do to fit in. We learn our culture through instruction and observed behavior.

Most would agree that we live in a global culture where there is a widespread epidemic of mistrust. Decisions are often stress-filled and fear-driven and the most common mentalities are self-serving and self-gratifying. At the same time, there is a remnant of emerging and established leaders who combat this epidemic by serving as catalysts for positive change in their realms of influence.

Even in the midst of the challenges of our world’s culture, these leaders refuse to focus on, and in turn perpetuate what is wrong. Instead, they deliberately choose to view the future through lenses of hope for families, communities, organizations, and nations. These leaders embody the concept that I have coined as, Higher Living Leadership.

Higher Living Leadership thrusts us beyond our individual successes and helps us to make the most of our opportunity to influence our culture. This is a vital responsibility that today’s leaders must both recognize and exercise. In order for our efforts to continue beyond our lifetime, we must purposely plant seeds today; we must be an incubator of validation to shift the cultural atmosphere. These kinds of leadership endeavors will prepare a generation of courageous trailblazers; the goal being to embolden them to go farther, achieve more, and give more as power and influence are used for the greater good.

In summary, Higher Living Leaders skillfully set the stage for emerging leaders to have a platform to positively impact their world.

Governmental leaders do not dictate culture; instead it is shaped by society’s loudest and most influential voices that ultimately shape legislation. Therefore, we should not look to our governments to solve all the world’s problems. Doing so not only neglects our responsibility as citizens, but also abandons our obligation to inspire, influence, train, and mentor those who do shape culture.

Science has proven that the neural pathways of our brain are constantly changing as a result of belief conversions, behaviors, or the environment. Similarly, history has revealed that the beliefs of citizenry lead to rapid changes in culture.

CULTURAL DEGENERATION

During the course of my lifetime, I have observed how rapidly culture has changed from one generation to another. The expression generation gap is commonplace to represent the drastic difference between a young person’s worldview and that of his or her parents or grandparents. The decades of the sixties and seventies—my generation—witnessed a Cultural Revolution that was, in many ways, won at society’s detriment. We were activists with a cause to liberate our and future generations from anything binding us to traditional morals, values, and responsibilities. Our mantra was, if it feels good, do it!

What were we thinking?

Every child is born with innate contributions in order to serve his or her world. When his or her unchanging purpose enjoys its place of expression, he or she will encounter a fulfilled life as they serve a cause greater than themselves.

The optimum environment for a child’s development is one where they are understood and raised to maturity (fully adult) by emotionally healthy and full-grown, giving parents. These parents are not driven by meeting their own needs, or by fear-driven selfishness, but to lead for the good of their children.

Today, the opportunity for a healthy upbringing is rarely a child’s experience. The sad reality is that a self-serving mentality and deterioration of morals and values has brought about a new cultural norm. This was not a premeditated abuse of power but has propagated injustice nonetheless. Our nation’s sons and daughters are surviving rather than thriving, feeling numb regarding their own lives. They are searching for some sense of personal fulfillment and finding themselves powerless to impact their world. The self-centered and personally irresponsible attitudes and actions of previous generations have shifted cultural norms, silencing healthy voices and distorting the treasure within our children.

Benjamin Franklin once said, I conceive that the great parts of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by false estimates they have made of the value of things. Allegorically speaking, we placed a high value upon our freedom to eat all the candy we wanted. Yet now we grieve the idea that today’s generation is riddled with cavities and diabetes as a result. We lived only for the moment, and failed to consider or recognize the consequences for future generations.

Freedom in the absence of accountability produces internal chaos and consequences that are incongruent to the very nature of our humanity. External achievements without internal order leave us constantly searching for more; we are never satisfied. External power without internal control positions us to hurt those we love, and to damage our own self-worth. Injustice is the outcome, and it permeates our world. It is a direct outcome of selfishness—caring only about what we want at the expense of others. As a result, we devalue human life knowingly or unknowingly by means of prejudice and hatred.

Current generations define success differently than those before them. Today we see a young generation confused and desperately trying to fit in while simultaneously searching for a unique identity and purpose. What results is an internal tug-o-war between a desire for individuality and a constant search for acceptance. What ensues, therefore, is a generation that is desperate to lead, yet instinctively and counterproductively following the loudest voice around them. They do so because of a culturally learned inability to discover and celebrate their own personal identity. We are desperately in need of those who will model another way; we are in need of those who will step up, demonstrate, and perpetuate Higher Living Leadership.

My generation of leaders led a revolution that has left our children and grandchildren searching for anything better than what they now know; they are searching for experiences that are higher, more meaningful, and healthier to the human soul. The emerging leaders of our society are desperate for a cause worthy of their time, effort, energy, and most importantly their heart. Rather than repeating a former model of revolution for revolution’s sake, this time the goals will be to improve, advance, and produce positive change in the emerging generation’s professional and private spheres of influence. This Cultural Revolution will be one of healthy internal leadership that influences our world and leaves it in a better condition than before.

On every level, from the family unit to the nation, a culture of justice will produce a breeding ground for Higher Living Leadership to flourish, reproduce, and have a sustainable impact upon the future. As Higher Living Leaders, our individual leadership is not about position or title, but the desire to make a significant difference in the lives of others, systems, and cultures. The internal motivation of justice—power used for good—is foundational to successful and impactful leadership. Justice will defend and honor. In the simplest terms, leaders who are motivated by justice will do what is right when confronted with the harsh opposing realities in their spheres of influence.

Every aspect of society is crying out for role models of higher thinking, higher responsibility, and a higher cause—a cause that makes life worth living and impacts society for good.

I very much appreciate the quality of leadership training that I have experienced. It has progressively influenced countless emerging and established leaders. I am now motivated to raise the bar even higher for our families, communities, and nations. Our world is searching for the fullness of intellectual expression, coupled with moral and ethical standards. It is by these terms that we will see a shift in the trajectory of our society by changing culture through acts of justice.

George W. Bush said, …America’s greatest economic need is higher ethical standards—standards enforced by strict laws and upheld by responsible business leaders.¹

The manner in which we lead our families, organizations, and communities of today can shift culture through continual Higher Living that impacts others for good. It is our responsibility to think and act on a higher cognitive and emotional level to positively impact all of our relationships. I recognize that this is easier said than done, but it is what will set us apart as Higher Living Leaders.

My hope is to provide both emerging and established leaders with relevant and applicable principles that can have a positive effect on every aspect of their lives.

I will freely tell you that I am not a neuroscientist or an expert in axiogenics. My goal, however, is that through my research and experience I can simplify some otherwise complex principles, making them accessible to you, and, as a result personally empowering. I hope to define for you the appropriate functions, in both intrinsic and extrinsic areas of life, to provide you with the ability to shift cultural paradigms through Higher Living Leadership.

Strategic reformers of culture are now actively integrated into our society. The question is, will you be one of them? I invite you to join a higher model of living and leading. These are the brave leaders who will redefine, for themselves and for future generations, power used for good that will establish and influence a new way—a way of Higher Living Leadership.

CHAPTER 1

The meaning of successful leadership is changing as rapidly as the society in which we live and function. Social trends and cultural values influence businesses, government, arts, media, and educational communities, thereby altering the way we live and lead. We can no longer passively stick our head in the proverbial sand. Instead, we must become a catalyst for positive change through personal leadership reformation.

The word reformation connotes rescue from error and a return to a rightful course. Courage is an attribute of one who rescues from error doing what is right for all. Our world needs Higher Living Leaders to step up to the plate and hit some home runs making our world a better place. We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can positively impact our personal spheres of influence for good.

Our lives can serve as pictures of possibility for others to follow, as we model the way through our words and deeds. Our attitudes teach what is right or wrong, good or bad, truth or lie, trust or mistrust, integrity or manipulation, love or hatred, celebration of or prejudice towards others, and so forth. With or without formal position or title, each one of us possesses the power to influence others positively.

Many people may consider me an idealist for believing that we can actually bring reformation to organizations, cultures, or even a nation. But, the truth is, we can! The truth is, YOU can!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.¹

Throughout history, good and bad leaders have shaped their world, influenced legislation, impacted lives, and shifted the course of cultures and nations. There are many un-sung heroes throughout history—those courageous individuals who stood up for a higher cause in order to combat the corruption surrounding them.

I HAVE A DREAM!

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech. His dream was to see an end to racism in the United States. While there is still work to be done to confront racism, we are living in a much better world …where [man is] not judged by the color of [his] skin, but by the content of [his] character—a cry of King’s heart.²

I, too, have a dream! Begin to envision a multitude of Higher Living Leaders that sincerely believe they can bring positive change to their world! Imagine those same leaders embracing the responsibility for its implementation in their spheres of influence. Imagine a company of leaders worldwide who are committed to see families whole, organizations flourishing, communities prospering, and nations thriving.

James Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of, The Leadership Challenge, said, The domain of leaders is the future. The leader’s unique legacy is the creation of valued institutions that survive over time. The most significant contribution leaders make is not simply to today’s bottom line; it is to the long-term development of people and institutions so they can adapt, change, prosper, and grow.³

There is great power and responsibility associated with any form of leadership influence. Whether you are a school student influencing your peers, a friend, spouse, parent, teacher, actor, sports figure, business person, or political leader, you have a vital mandate for reformation. Wherever a platform of influence exists, there exists the opportunity for leaders to either bring positive change by building and empowering, or to harm, abuse, exploit, or control unjustly. We are either on one side of the fence or the other! Riding the fence is a fear-based reaction that positions the leader to live in a constant state of duplicity that results in internal conflict and external chaos.

Leadership is the source of life. It can be readily understood in examining the source of a river. When the source of a river is pure, clean, and healthy, it will supply the river with the same qualities and will benefit all who drink from it. Conversely, if the source of the river is contaminated, so too will the river be contaminated and it will harm anyone who drinks from it. The indisputable fact is that our decisions not only affect us, but also those with whom we share a relationship. Many people believe that they can compartmentalize their lives, living one way personally and another professionally. This way of living culminates in a tormented life, even in the face of high levels of influence or prosperity. A leader cannot simultaneously produce pure and contaminated water from the same source. When my freedom takes away another’s it is morally and ethically wrong! Leadership, position, or authority by its very nature will have an impact on others—for good or harm; therefore, let us take what has already been entrusted to us and be a part of the solution.

When we think about the profound responsibility that leadership brings, and the care that must be taken when one leverages a platform of influence, it is easy to believe that a world renowned humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner could bring reformation. It is easy to believe that her platform to speak before the United States Congress, the United Nations, and governmental agencies worldwide would provide her with the necessary platforms to positively affect change. Yes! This individual’s voice is still heard worldwide, even after her death, as her torch is passed to many who were influenced by her life and message. Even though she has passed away, her voice is still heard worldwide. With a heart to rescue many from error and return to a rightful course, she was one of the greatest reformers in history; she shifted mindsets, beliefs, values, and ultimately impacting culture for the good.

"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you help them. Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway."⁴

This quote was found on a sign on the wall in her Children’s Home, Shishu Bhavan, in Calcutta, India. This leader was Mother Theresa and this well-known quotation represents her leadership approach. She knew that love, kindness, success, doing good, honesty, building, helping, and giving your best was the highest way to think, live, and lead.

Our ability to enact reformation that leads to good outcomes begins in the core of who we are—our heart, our character!

Leadership is not about position or title, but having the courage to make a significant difference in our sphere of influence.

In fact, the moment we lean upon our title or position rather than a heart of service, our influence will weaken.

Successful leadership validates and empowers