This is the step that sounds easy and obvious. However, many people who try to do the right thing end up falling in the trap of taking on the journey by themselves. By doing so, the journey ends up lonely and dangerous as one becomes an easy target to those who find threat in the good work.

Why do so many people end up doing it alone when the danger is so obvious? Why is there the temptation of trying to do it alone? There are various reasons which include:

Opponents trap - Your opponents will do everything to make you vulnerable. They will encourage you to have courage in fighting for what you believe in. This will make you happy to oblige and even isolate yourself more.

Praise for being on the front line - Many people enjoy the plaudits that come from being on the front line. This danger even rises when your allies’ sense that you are fully committed. They will encourage you by praising your steps towards your goal. However, none of them is ready to make a step to support you.

Passion and commitment - Belief in what you are doing is indispensable to your willingness to take the risks of leading adaptive change. This makes one vulnerable ending up getting caught in the cause that they do not detect danger signals leading to failure.

Scenario

During the apartheid regime, South Africa had a dubious reputation of boasting one of the highest prison populations in the world. This became a concern for the two most educated lawyers then; Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. The two thought they knew what racial injustice was all about. But their experience of overflowing human misery in their cramped lawyers’ offices opened their eyes to the real suffering of ordinary people.

As lawyers, they presented African grievances to the white leadership. However, the softer policies of negotiation and compliance achieved nothing. The ANC political and anti-apartheid party which had been formed by Mandela gained popularity as both blacks and some white people believed in the ANC politics. Mandela and Tambo were key in organizing the Defiance Campaign resulting in Mandela imprisonment and Tambo going to exile.

In prison, Mandela was offered freedom to denounce opposition to the government by President Botha. Having known how oppressed people of South Africa were, Mandela told president Botha "What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? And What freedom am I being offered when my very South African citizenship is not respected?"

Mandela did not do it alone; Tambo assisted him to keep his initiative alive from exile and citizens who had subscribed to ANC party ensured that they kept the apartheid regime on toss.

Whether you are taking on a small initiative or a large one, do not go it alone. Find partners who will share the dangers and the exposure. Together, you will stand a far better chance of avoiding attacks from opponents and keeping initiative alive.

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Written by

Mercy Odongo