Start with yourself

Anyone, anywhere, can start an initiative of change by applying the words of Mahatma Gandhi: Be the change you want to see in the world. If you want to see an end to corruption, start by being scrupulously honest yourself. If you want to see peace in the world, start within your own family. If you care about the environment, start looking at your own patterns of consumption and waste.

Start, but don't stop there. Individuals are powerful. Teams even more so. Starting with yourself can inspire others to follow your example creating hope and fighting cynicism and despair. We all have times when we feel discouraged and need the support of others. Teams can give that support, along with a diversity of skills, perspectives and personal networks, enabling individual efforts to be greatly magnified.

But the driving force for change always lies with the individual. The all-too-human tendency to institutionalize, to set up rules, regulations and procedures, can sometimes get in the way of individual spontaneity and initiative.