COLUMBUS DAY
Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. For many, the holiday is a way of honoring Columbus’ achievements; but throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy.
Columbus was an Italian-born explorer who set sail in August 1492, presumably bound for Asia with backing from the Spanish monarchs. He intended to chart a western sea route to Asia. Instead, on October 12, 1492, he landed in the Bahamas, becoming the first European to explore the Americas.
Later that October, Columbus sighted Cuba. In December, the expedition found Hispaniola. There, he established Spain’s first colony in the Americas with 39 of his men. In the spring, Columbus returned to Spain in triumph, bearing gold, spices and “Indian” captives. He subsequently crossed the Atlantic several more times before his death in 1506.
In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation encouraging Americans to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage with patriotic festivities. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday. Since then, Columbus Day is observed on the second Monday of October.
Isn’t it amazing that one person with vision and conviction reshaped the modern world? It required perseverance and courage, as obtaining ships to sail across a vast unknown watery expanse proved very difficult. Columbus knew there was land beyond the reality of what their short-sighted gaze could perceive. His life was marked by faith. These qualities changed the future.
As a leader, you understand that Columbus’s attributes—the positive ones—also help you to be successful in your role: Courage to speak up and defend your ideas, conviction to maintain your position, perseverance to continue pursuing a mission, faith that what you offer is beyond what others can perceive. You see a vision to improve an area of the organization, and it has not been executed successfully by another. You are the Change Agent for that purpose.
Because we all come to the table with fresh perspectives and insights, the collective mind is wider than the individual mind. Your team members also possess vision and make observations; but are they hiding their suggestions? Servant leaders create an environment that inspires others to offer input to make something great even greater. I believe everyone can have the spirit of Columbus in them to creatively discover and unfurl something new.
Build your organization or team in a spirit of humility where all are welcome to share, where small and large ideas have a place at the table, where people’s contributions are valued. Encourage boldness. Praise creativity and determination. Honor the person of faith who sees that which others do not see. Create this environment!
What qualities do you want your team members to demonstrate?