The Reluctant Advocate

Development requires that we are able to be wrong and admit that; advocacy speaks with the voice of ‘being right’. Traditionally it is authoritative and takes us into realms of duality, rather than the grey, uncomfortable, chaotic places where creativity and development take place. But because this duality is uncomfortable for us we must work with it.

At our heart is love, compassion and the desire to make the world a better place – to do more good than harm. We are concerned not only with issues but with process. Advocating processes of reflection, internal development, facilitation and so on is emerging.

But traditional forms of advocacy remain. The need to speak truth to power with confidence, with conviction and with humility. At times we need to speak for the voiceless, because those who should speak are not here. Or sometimes their voices are so soft that we need to bring a microphone, or to hush the noise and teach people to listen – really listen – so that even whispers can be heard.

Listening and speaking. Truly listening, and speaking truly. In situations of conflict – this is where advocacy takes place. We can shout and we can block our ears. It takes courage to speak with integrity and listen with compassion. Seeking a deeper understanding, and knowing that that it is a deeper understanding that will shift relationships, are undercurrents of advocacy.

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