An Interview with Ricky Lewis
Ricky Lawrence Lewis
Introduction
It’s been said that when you believe in something with all of your heart and mind, you bring it to life.
There is a song inspired by the 1970’s soul rendition of “Love, Peace, and Happiness” by the Chamber Brothers by the name of “All of My Love…”. It is sung by multiple university based Black Greek lettered organizations including Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity. Inc.
Love is about Prospering relationships, Preserving what you have built, and Protecting what you love.
As a student and teacher of leadership, I have observed and studied leaders in multiple facets including public and civic sectors, private and non-profit domains, and the religious provinces. One of the things that I seek to understand is what drives those leaders to be successful (or not successful) and what motivates them to take on the mantle of leadership in their respective areas. Leadership isn’t easy. Every day brings a new set of challenges and obstacles to overcome. Those that aspire and choose to take on leadership roles are often compelled by a myriad of forces that inspire them to succeed and prosper.
In my work as a leadership coach, I see my clients consistently bombarded with problems, issues, complaints, and crises. The choices they make as they tackle these day-to-day challenges are a big part of what distinguishes them as good, or great leaders (or in some cases, bad leaders).
In this article, the question you will learn the answer to is, “What drives Ricky Lewis to lead a 110-year-old historically significant organization?”
Ricky Lawrence Lewis was born in Pensacola, FL later moving to Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, where he was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in 1981. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1911, at Howard University, is a historically African American fraternal organization. Lewis is a life member now seeking the highest office in the organization as the 42nd Grand Basileus leading the fraternity.
I first met Ricky about fifteen years ago. I became involved in a program that he founded and is now the Executive Director, the Youth Leadership Conference and Mentoring Program in Los Angeles (YLC). This program has impacted the lives of over 8,800 young men over the last 28 years. Lewis sees this conference as one of his greatest accomplishments. This is where I experienced Ricky’s leadership abilities first-hand. He is a no-nonsense leader, stickler for time, and a detail-oriented person determined to get it right. Ricky was direct and assertive and accepted no excuses for falling short on goals. I also saw a man truly caring about the young people the program is intended to serve. This task was a mission of commitment – it took time, effort and dedication to pull it off; there was no paycheck, no financial gain, only the satisfaction of serving and making a difference in the lives of the youth participants.
I also had the opportunity to experience his leadership acumen when I attended several meetings at Ricky’s home chapter, Tau Tau, one of the largest chapters in Omega Psi Phi where I observed Ricky working with his “Team.” Because of the size of the chapter, meetings are run in a very disciplined manner. Members that want to speak have to be recognized by the president and line up to address the body and are governed by strict time constraints. Ricky seemed to always have something to say about almost every issue. Now, everyone did not always agree with him, but they always listened intently because they knew what he was saying came from the heart and was meant to strengthen the organization and its purpose. It was evident that his intentions were related to duty and honor towards the fraternity.
Prospering
One of the most important elements a leader needs to focus on in guiding any organization is to ensure its prosperity. Seeing that an organization grows and thrives is one of the most essential challenges a leader must face. Leadership does come with its own rewards and benefits. Among them are, reflecting your leadership values, and gaining the commitment of the people you are leading. Most important is effectively elevating an organization’s status and stature.
When I sat with Ricky Lewis to talk to him about his views on his leadership style, his values and goals, I wanted to know his plans for prospering the fraternity. I pondered why he thought he was the right man to take the reins of leadership of a fraternity trying to emerge from a global pandemic. His response was, “This fraternity has been a huge part of my life for over 40 years. I know how things work.”
Lewis wants members to look at what he has done and let his body of work speak for itself. Along with leading the YLC, he has served in multiple leadership roles in the fraternity including serving as the 12th District Representative, and currently serving as “second-in-command” as the 1st Vice Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi. These attainments only scratch the surface of the leadership roles that he has occupied in the organization.
While Lewis admits that he is not a perfect leader and that he is constantly looking to find ways to improve, he asserts that he is a “servant leader” and that he works to be a tool that serves those inside and outside of the fraternity. When asked, why should people follow him, he replied that “I will always do what is best for the organization and not what is best for me”. His goal is to move the needle forward. He wants to “build to the next level”.
He mentioned that during his campaign stops around the country, he was told that he can’t use that idiom because that is what the current leader of the organization said during his campaign. Lewis’ retort was, “why not? – The Ford Motor Co. builds their cars to the next level; Apple® builds their devices to the next level. They didn’t produce the first iPhone™ and then jump straight to the 13 model. It came in increments, with each reiteration building on the previous model.” Ricky’s mode of operation is to lead incrementally.
In some leadership circles, and in this instant gratification world that we live in, leaders are often pushed to make grand changes and solve problems overnight. Ricky’s approach leans towards building on previous accomplishments and continuing to build on the successes of the organization. Lewis sees his leadership role as a relay race. Leaders of this organization pass the baton to the next leader to build on previous achievements. He will take what he has learned from others and infuse that knowledge going forward to grow the organization and protect its standing in the community. He intends to work to give people the resources that they need to succeed. He seeks his guidance and inspiration from other leaders in the fraternity and likes to talk to those who will “give it to him straight”. It is with the help of his leadership team, and fraternity members, that he is confident he will make sure Omega prospers under his stewardship.
Preserving
The history of Omega Psi Phi is steeped in tradition and customs. Preserving its legacies and mores are essential to its survival. When I coach leaders, I use a strengths-based approach to help leaders focus on what they do best and how to accentuate those qualities to further their leadership objectives.
When Lewis was asked about his leadership strengths, he says he listens to everyone because “you never know what you will learn.” Lewis says he has no problem talking to leaders from the Devine Nine (Black sororities and fraternities) for advice. He says it is important to listen to a variety of opinions, as well as descents, and ideas from all facets. Lewis sees himself as a consensus builder and embraces the “huddle up” approach to garner other people’s perspectives. He wants to hear what is going on and does not like surprises. He strives to treat everyone with respect. Good leadership is about listening and respecting others and their opinions. Much too often leadership goes wrong because of a failure to listen. Dealing with complex situations and solving problems rests on the leader’s ability to hear what is actually happening, and respecting and gaining viewpoints from a wide variety of people.
As a child, Ricky says he never wanted his parents to go to a PTA meeting at school and receive bad news about him. Their opinion of the son they were raising was important to his development as a man and a leader. Lewis says he leads with integrity – his word is his bond, and you must do what you say you are going to do. He says that he attributes this philosophy to his parents, Harvey and Ethel. They taught him these values that he now lives by.
One of his father’s moral codes was don’t owe anybody and pay your debts. He would say, “If you owed somebody $20, and you only have $20”in your pocket then you don’t have any money”. His mother would exhort him to keep his affairs in order and stay in good stead with others. She would say, “When somebody knocks at your door, you should not have to worry about who it is.” A leader that builds trust with their followers encompasses these values and shows people they matter. These are qualities that successful leaders possess, and what great leaders exemplify consistently in their leadership roles.
In his current position as 1st Vice Grand Basileus, and while campaigning for the new position as 42nd Grand Basileus, Ricky travels frequently around the country and connects with the membership to attend events and meetings with the senior leadership team and fraternity members constantly. Lewis works tirelessly in his effort to promote the fraternity’s agenda while advancing its programs. This, along with countless other duties and responsibilities fills his days. Oh, and did I mention, that while doing all of this, he has a full-time job in the aerospace industry and a wife and two sons. One son is an adult and a captain in the U.S. Army, the other, a tenth grader. So, I asked him, with an already full plate how do you balance time between work, family, and the fraternity. He says he strives to be a good husband and father and that it is only because of their unwavering support he is able to meet all of his obligations and goals. He avowed that we all only have 24 hours in a day and believes that it is necessary to get things done early.
Lewis rises most days at 4:30 a.m. and sends out emails sometimes after midnight.And, as good leaders must do, he makes plans.Planning is a crucial element for leaders to set priorities and get things accomplished.Plans set boundaries and drive decisions that help leaders to accomplish their goals.
Protecting
I asked Ricky Lewis, what keeps him awake at night (as far as the fraternity goes)? His response - “protecting the brand, brother, protecting the brand”. Despite the mountain of good that fraternal organizations do in the community, they do get their fair share of negative impressions. The motto of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity is “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.” The brand of the organization is grounded in supporting the activities and thinking that constructs a positive image rooted in friendship and service. Maintaining a positive identity of the fraternity is of paramount concern for Lewis. Any actions that damage the perceptions about the organization hurt the fraternity’s viability and reputation. “Having a positive brand gives you a seat at the table at the highest levels of influence”, says Lewis.
Brand stature is a vital element in the growth and survival of the institution in the 21st century. When I queried Lewis on the fact that if he is successful in his quest to become the 42nd Grand Basileus of Omega, he will be listed as one of the 100 most influential Black Americans, he recoiled with a sense of humble acceptance. He insisted that nothing changes for him. His commitment and intentions don’t change and his goals remain firm. While he does not expect to solve all of the organizational problems if he is elected, he will give his all to enhance its imprint. Lewis also believes it is important to, “do everything in his power not to sink the ship”
Lewis concedes that in this world of social media and cell phone cameras, it is increasingly more difficult to maintain a positive image that exudes the image and principles that most members expect to portray.However, he believes that with faith and a strong reliance on his leadership skills that the organization will continue to flourish and grow.To him, “protecting the brand” means keeping it around for generations to come, and that it means coming together to ensure that the brand remains strong.
Conclusion
So now we come to the question at hand, what drives Ricky Lewis to attain this lifelong goal of leading this great organization? While other leaders that I have studied are driven by virtuous causes, business successes; financial gains; or political motivations, it became apparent during this interview with Lewis that none of those reasons applied. It was obvious that his motivation is driven by apparently something more powerful. His inspiration is driven by love. When he speaks, he sounds like a man with an incorruptible dream; a passion that at its inner core is about love of ideals woven in friendship and brotherhood. It is about a love for the people in this organization and the purpose they serve to each other and the community. When he refers to “protecting the brand” he speaks as if he is talking about a loved one; something that he deeply cares about. His journey to leadership is not guided by money, power, or cause, but by his love and devotion to the organization and the members.
“All of my love, peace and happiness I will give to Omega” epitomizes Ricky Lewis’ inspiration and aspiration. It’s a journey from love to leadership. I wish him the best in life and in his future endeavors.
By Larry Hammond, Sr.