A social impact leader has one job. This is it.

There are a lot of different takes on leadership -- heck, there's a whole industry of magazines, speaker's bureaus, and bookstore aisles dedicated to selling different ideas about leadership. What to do, how to be one, how to become one ... blah blah blah.

Social change leadership is simple. (Not doing it, just defining it.)

A social change leader has one responsibility, and everything else flows from that.

Ready?

A social change leader's job is to create meaning.

That's it. That's their only responsibility. Create. Meaning.

Every thing you’re expected to do in this role falls under the heading “create meaning”

A leader is supposed to know an issue well enough to understand why it deserves attention. What is in jeopardy? What needs to be nurtured? Of all the different wonders and injustices this world offers, why focus on this one?

Good leaders see why a cause is important, and they can describe it so that other people see it, too. They point out the north star. Some people call that vision. I call it meaning.

A leader has a clear idea of what conditions will right wrongs and protect the cherished. They don't just believe that injustice can be overcome. They know it. They know it because they can see clearly the swirling set of circumstances by which change will actually happen. They transmit this clarity of vision to others, which creates hope, focus, agency. Some people call that strategy. I call it meaning.

A leader knows how to create the conditions for change. They can't control the universe, but they can cultivate an environment where change becomes likely. A leader knows what that environment is and what activities need to take place to create it. Some people call that planning. I call it meaning.

If you are part of their team, they can tell you how you contribute to the effort, why your activities matter, what difference you will make in this world. They understand at a very practical and real level how each person's time and effort fuels change. When you forget, they remind you. When you don't understand, they explain. Real change is often years - maybe decades - away, but a leader can help you connect the dots from each of today's tiny tasks to their ultimate impact. Some people call that managing. I call it meaning.

A leader makes sure a group has the resources it needs to carry out its activities effectively. Whether it's people or money or knowledge or supplies, a leader feeds the group what it needs for your efforts to mean something. They ensure that hard work has leads to results. Some people call that fundraising. That's meaning, too.

And a leader keeps tabs on how the world is changing. Strategy is more of a pulse than a straight line, a beating rhythm that needs frequent tuning. Leaders know that what was true in the past may not remain true today. A good leader is clear-sighted but also humble, constantly learning and integrating new information to ensure the team's work remains relevant in the world. That's meaning.

Leadership is a promise

People who give their time and resources are feeding a system that a leader creates. They trust that this will be the best way to achieve a goal that is important to them, so they willingly give their time, money, and heart. In turn, a leader is obliged to do their very best to maintain a structure that converts those gifts into impact. It’s a sacred pact.

That's a heavy burden to carry, and many leaders I know feel its weight on their shoulders. It's what makes social impact leaders different from other kinds of leaders.

Despite the weight of responsibility, there is an incredible, uplifting power in this work, as well. That's the "creation" part of the role, the magic part.

Being able to transform fear and frustration into meaningful change is real power. You’re creating joy, hope, and power in places it wasn’t thriving before. That’s positive change that resonates for generations. There’s nothing else quite like it.