It's become alarmingly clear to me lately that our collective focus is somewhat misplaced. We're so fixated on thought leaders, the people with the loudest voices and the most polarizing opinions. We put them on a pedestal.
But what about the silent contributors, the unsung heroes working in the background?
We look up to people who are skilled at expressing their opinions, those who form debates, and those who are known for their extreme views. We're drowning in their noise, and it's suppressing the voices of so many other contributors.
Take the civil rights movement, for example. It wasn't just MLK who shaped the course of history; it was the collective effort of thousands of people, many of whom will remain anonymous forever. These people created positive ripple effects, building momentum at the grassroots level. Their contributions may be invisible to most, but they were vital.
In an age where it's virtually costless to track contributions of all kinds, why aren't we doing it?
We should be recognizing and celebrating all kinds of people who make various contributions, not just those who are skilled at speaking or making everything about themselves. We need coordination platforms, civic intelligence networks, or whatever we choose to call them, that supercharge these kinds of contributors.
The world needs more than just spokespeople. We need to make different contributions legible, easy to support, and properly valued. Communication networks are not the only relational networks. We must figure out the unit of contributions for different people and make sure they're tracked so there's no question of who's contributing to any particular cause or ecosystem.
Perhaps it's time for a shift in focus, a time to celebrate the often overlooked individuals who support and fund movements, the silent contributors who build the momentum without seeking the spotlight.
Our world is complex, and every voice, every contribution matters. The time has come to expand our horizons and acknowledge that thought leaders are just a part of a greater whole.
We need to value those who contribute without the need for recognition. For it is in the subtle, quiet work of many that the true impact is often found.
Let's take the next step together and embrace the multifaceted contributions that make our society rich and dynamic.