Some people think leadership is all about the future. These people are focused on their own vision for where they are going. They work hard to get themselves, and everyone else, moving in the direction they want to go. They do not want to be distracted by what has happened before, or what else is happening now. The future is their target and they are leading people forward, confident in their own vision. Some people think leadership is all in... Read more
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta over ten years after Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa, and over two years before Desmond Tutu was born. He is the only African-American person, as well as the only member of the clergy, for whom the United States has designated a national holiday. He was not perfect, but he accomplished a great deal in a short lifetime. The eldest son of an African-American minister, Martin grew up in a position... Read more
My friend D’Anne Hotchkiss is an honest and courageous listener. She is the kind of listener who takes the time to savor the nuances and the deep truths of what someone tells her. I would say that D’Anne is someone who sees clearly, who does not really have mental fog. We each thought it would help us, and be enjoyable, to trade posts and share our perspectives. Thank you, D’Anne! Years ago, my high school friends and I were prone... Read more
Some people see leadership as an intellectual exercise. They conclude that if they can gather the information they need and analyze it effectively, they can learn to be leaders. Leadership is about sorting out what to do. The challenge of leadership is being able to think everything through as quickly as necessary. Some people see leadership as an emotional exercise. They feel that if they can empathize and motivate people effectively, they can be the leaders people want. Leadership is... Read more
Some people understand revelry as a way to forget. They lose themselves in dancing, or drinking, or celebrating. They try to use revelry to escape from painful experiences or regrets. They see revelry as a way to leave things behind. Deep revelry is not focused on the past. Some people understand revelry as a way to remember, to continue traditions. They revel in the same occasions, in the same ways, each year. They try to ensure that people learn the... Read more
Every pilgrimage begins with leaving the familiar and setting off toward the unknown. We can spend countless hours planning and preparing for our journey, but not take the first step to leave the familiar bonds which hold us. It may be fear that keeps us there, or comfort, or inertia. We feel so at home there. We need courage to start, as well as confidence and curiosity. We may be pushed by a desire to see what we have not seen,... Read more
Leaders set strong goals, particularly annual goals. There are three key qualities that strong annual goals have in common. First, strong goals are authentic. Strong goals are not based on theory. They are not simply adjustments or revisions of last year’s annual goals. They are not a consensus of what other people suggest your goals could be. Strong goals reflect our core values and the leader we are becoming. Our goals are tangible steps to put our true selves into... Read more
I am part of a liturgical church. Whenever we get together, we remember our story and we share a meal. Epiphany is the season that follows the twelve days of Christmas, beginning on the morning after Twelfth Night. During Epiphany we remind ourselves through our story that the Sacred is manifest in the everyday. Epiphany is about how the world reveals that the Sacred and the everyday are inseparable. Wherever we look, the Divine makes itself known. Whether we are... Read more
I am very good at making sure that I am absolutely prepared. I have the supplies I could need, my ducks are all in a row, I do not want to rush into starting a project until everything is ready. It is important for everything to be orderly and neat from the beginning. I think I will do better work if I get a good night’s sleep and begin in the morning. There is almost always a valid reason to... Read more
Good morning! Where are you this morning? Are you where you hoped you would be last New Year’s morning? This morning is a new beginning, a fresh start. It is a special morning in some ways, the beginning of a new month and a new year. Where I live, there is a parade and football game. You may be making an extra effort to keep your resolutions or put your plans into action today. In other ways, it is a lot... Read more
Strategic Monk
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