One of the most compelling aspects of the Quaker life, is it's testimonies. These are not beliefs, “but a description of committed actions.”[1] These fundamental principles are lived out by Quakers in their everyday lives and practice.
Here is a quick video that summarizes quite a few of the testimonies and their importance in the Friendly life:
As you can see there is a direct connection between identity and action. In Debra Meyerson’s Rocking the Boat, this connection between identity and action is one that she points to throughout the book. It is at these places of intersection between identity and action that the potential for friction and growth happens.
In chapter seven, Meyerson talks about small wins, which are an important part of how I understand change-based leadership. Yet she also talks these small gains in terms of people’s simple, lived out commitment to aligning their corporation’s culture with their vision for a more peaceful and just society. To me, the parallel between testimony (in that committed actions, done in a faithful, peaceful matter) and the small gains are remarkable.
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