For more years than I can remember (long before my days working in oncology), I’ve had a plaque hanging in my office that reads, “Stand Up for Your Principles, Even if You Stand Alone.” In recent years, however, I’d lost track of it as my office location and available space to hang these kinds of things had changed. Once again this past fall, as I found myself packing boxes and downsizing once more, I came across my old plaque.

At first glance, these words describe the kind of professional many of us aspire to be. But when you look deeper and reflect on the complex experiences we’ve all encountered with patients, other professionals and in our personal lives, you realize there is not just “if” but rather “when” you stand alone—we’ve all been there at one point or another. For some of us, this is because we’re the only oncology social workers within our multidisciplinary teams; for others, it could be a worldview that differs from those around you. Some of you are at the beginning of your careers, still exploring and defining your principles.

Another thing about standing alone is that it sounds kind of…well, lonely. It doesn’t have to be! At least that’s what my years of experience and being a leader have taught me. I used to have much black and white thinking and now I see that gray is just as common (and necessary). Sometimes your principles represent what is ultimately the right thing to do or say and at other times they’re truly your (personal) principles. The idea of standing alone means something completely different. Here’s another situation where context matters—sometimes standing alone is more of a feeling than an actual state of affairs.

Today, as I read the words on the plaque, one word comes to mind—leader. This didn’t occur to me years ago. You see, no matter who you are, where you work or what the situation is, living up to the idea of standing up for your principles is quite a “gutsy” thing to do! When some of us think of leaders, the idea of being a board member, president, supervisor or something similar comes to mind; yet, for some, none of these titles have followed your name. Does that make you any less of a leader? NO! As I listen to your presentations, look at your posters or read about a program you developed, I see clearly that leadership is defined by the context within which certain behaviors or actions take place. When I think about this outside of the professional realm, it would include leadership in your home, community and even places of worship. This means we’re all leaders in one way or another.

This article isn’t just about a plaque that means something in my life but rather a way for me to appeal to all of you to think about what being a leader means in your own lives, in your places of employment and yes, even within your professional organization.

• Stand Up. We’ve all taken a stand by choosing a profession where we’re standing with, for and beside people facing some of the toughest and most complex times in their lives.
   
• Your Principles. We have our Code of Ethics to guide our practice behaviors but think about how each one of us uniquely approaches the gray issues we encounter. Mix this altogether and you’ve started down the road of defining your principles.
   
• Even If. These two words encompass so many experiences where the uncomfortable “unknown” is welcomed, albeit anxiously at times. In working with other human beings, we realize we take risks every day.
   
• Stand Alone. If not you, then who? This word “stand” is mentioned twice, which must mean that it deserves more of our attention—this is where our focus should be.

What I see more clearly now is that while leadership itself can sometimes be challenging, complex, uncomfortable, unknown and risky, our principles are more clearly defined through our experiences so we can stand up for the things that matter even if it seems we are standing alone.

I am so grateful to the leaders in AOSW who have paved the way for all of us to forge ahead as we do this important work in a profession that continues to be elevated in the broader oncology community. To the person reading this article now who’s thinking, “I’m not a leader” or “I could never be a leader”: So many others have thought the same thing! If it weren’t for other colleagues who encouraged, supported, challenged and stood up for me, then I would not be writing to you as your President-Elect.

As this year progresses, I’d like you all to reflect on your own leadership potential. Take a risk and try something different. Join that committee or run for that board position you’ve been thinking about. Sometimes standing up is something we must do for ourselves—except in this case, it’ll be in one of the most supportive groups you have ever been a part of.