Leadership is often misunderstood as a quality reserved for a select few who possess extraordinary charisma or skill, but M Teresa Lawrence presents a different, more accessible vision of leadership. In her chapter, The Leadership of Play, from The Power of Leadership, she explores how fear, creativity, and imagination can transform ordinary moments into opportunities for personal and professional growth. By blending courage, a sense of playfulness, and an unwavering belief in oneself, Teresa redefines leadership as something within reach for anyone willing to embrace it.
Leaning into Fear: A Path to Growth
Fear is one of the most common barriers to leadership. It can stop us in our tracks, keeping us from taking risks, making decisions, or pursuing opportunities. In her chapter, M Teresa Lawrence shares a deeply personal and powerful story of facing fear early in her career. While working in corporate America, she was once held at gunpoint in an elevator—a moment that could have paralyzed her with fear. Instead, she chose to confront her fear head-on. Rather than avoiding the place of trauma, she forced herself to ride the same elevator every day, gradually desensitizing herself to the fear it invoked.
This experience didn’t just help Teresa regain her composure; it taught her a valuable lesson about leadership. True leadership, she argues, requires us to face fear—not to eliminate it but to manage it in a way that allows us to keep moving forward. For Teresa, fear can either paralyze or propel us. The difference lies in how we respond to it. She highlights that fear is not an obstacle to avoid but an opportunity for growth. Through consistent action and emotional resilience, we can reclaim power over our fears and lead with greater courage.
Teresa’s story also demonstrates that leadership is about building emotional strength through consistent, small acts of bravery. It’s not about being fearless, but about learning to make decisions and take action in the face of fear. By leaning into fear, rather than letting it control us, we create the conditions for personal growth and the development of our leadership abilities. Teresa’s experience teaches us that leadership starts from within—from mastering our emotions and learning to move forward despite uncertainty.
Embracing Play: A New Approach to Leadership
M Teresa Lawrence takes a unique approach to leadership by introducing the idea of play as a key element. In a world that often values seriousness and structure in leadership, Teresa emphasizes that play, creativity, and curiosity are just as important. She draws a parallel between leadership and the natural playfulness of children, who are unafraid to explore, take risks, and use their imagination. This childlike wonder, she believes, is essential for leaders who want to inspire innovation and collaboration.
Play, as Teresa describes it, is not about frivolity but about a mindset that encourages experimentation and joy in discovery. In her chapter, she shares how her venture into publishing a lifestyle magazine, CURIO, embodied this playful approach to leadership. Although CURIO eventually folded, the process of creating it allowed her to embrace her creative instincts without the fear of failure holding her back. The experience of launching and running the magazine was an exercise in leadership through play, where the journey mattered as much as the outcome.
Teresa argues that when leaders adopt a playful attitude, they open themselves up to new possibilities and solutions that might otherwise remain hidden. Play fosters creativity, encourages innovation, and makes space for collaboration. Leaders who approach challenges with a sense of play are often more open to unconventional ideas and more willing to take calculated risks. This spirit of play doesn’t just benefit leaders—it also inspires their teams to think creatively and to work together in a more dynamic, open environment.
One of the key takeaways from Teresa’s chapter is that leadership doesn’t have to be rigid or overly serious. By embracing a sense of play, leaders can create environments where innovation thrives, teams feel supported, and new ideas come to life. Teresa reminds us that leadership is not just about achieving goals—it’s also about enjoying the process and being willing to explore new paths.
Harnessing Imagination: Belief in Possibility
In addition to confronting fear and embracing play, M Teresa Lawrence highlights the role of imagination in leadership. Imagination, she believes, is not just for artists or children—it’s a crucial tool for leaders who want to inspire others and create change. In her chapter, Teresa shares how she often asks people to describe how they fly in their dreams. The responses are always unique, showing that everyone has their own way of achieving flight. For Teresa, this is a metaphor for leadership: just as there are many ways to fly in dreams, there are many ways to lead in real life.
Leadership, in Teresa’s view, requires imagination because it allows us to see possibilities where others see obstacles. Imagination helps leaders envision a future that doesn’t yet exist and motivates them to take action to make that future a reality. Teresa emphasizes that strong leadership is rooted in a deep belief in one’s ability to succeed. Whether it’s founding her nonprofit, The Trueness Project, or leading new initiatives, Teresa has consistently relied on her imagination and belief in possibility to guide her decisions.
Her work with The Trueness Project, which empowers individuals in underserved communities to recognize their potential, is a testament to her belief in the power of imagination. By encouraging people to take ownership of their stories and futures, Teresa is showing how imagination can be a force for good—both for individuals and communities.
For Teresa, imagination and belief go hand in hand. Leaders need to believe not only in their own abilities but also in the potential of others. By fostering an environment where imagination and belief thrive, leaders can inspire those around them to dream bigger and reach further.
M Teresa Lawrence’s approach to leadership is both refreshing and practical. By leaning into fear, embracing play, and harnessing the power of imagination, she redefines leadership as an accessible skill that anyone can develop. Her chapter in The Power of Leadership serves as a guide for those who are ready to take action and unlock their potential. Whether leading in the workplace, in the community, or in personal life, Teresa’s insights remind us that leadership is not about grand gestures or titles—it’s about the small, courageous steps we take every day toward our goals.
