When we love what we do, and do what we love, we can see it in our work. I grew up surrounded by people who were proud of their humility. They knew they were good at what they did. They did not need to market themselves. They put their work into what they did, not talking about it. If you wanted the product of work done well, they knew you would come to them. They raised cows that gave the best... Read more
Our leadership relies on translating lessons from the past into actions in the present. The truths we have learned in the past and our behavior in the present shape our future. We reflect on where we have been as we try to understand where we are going. There are people whose leadership is rooted in their experience. The trauma they have witnessed or the regrets they have may make them hesitant to move forward. They may be focused on settling old scores or battling old demons.... Read more
I belong to a liturgical church. We divide our years into liturgical season. A new season, Lent, began about a week and a half ago. Lent is about assessing and making changes to find balance in our lives. Many people choose something they would like to give up or do without during Lent. Some years I give something up for Lent. One year I gave up making fun of people from California who thought it was really cold. Another year... Read more
There are times when it seems like few things are really working for me. For some reason I cannot get my computer or iPad to do what I want it to do. A tool or piece of equipment I have depended on over and over will not work now, when I need it. There is a problem with my car, or my phone, or something else. That does not even begin to consider the people around me, or the ideas in my... Read more
Our leadership is more about who we are than about how other people respond to us. Our own core values, principles, and vision are the ground in which our leadership grows. The leaders we become, the ways we lead, reflect who we are in our deepest selves. At the same time, it is impossible for us to lead without other people. Our leadership depends on our willingness to share our true selves with the people around us. Our leadership is... Read more
I belong to a liturgical church. We divide our years into liturgical seasons. A new season, Lent, began this week on Ash Wednesday. People who do not know much about Lent think it is a time to feel bad about yourself. They believe Lent is all about being sad and sorry for who you are every day. I do not see Lent that way. Lent is a season of assessing and making changes to find balance in our lives. Many people... Read more
We may go to work in an office or on a farm, at a school or a desk at home. We may use special equipment or depend on the strength of our own minds and bodies. We may need years of schooling. We may see our own work as unique and specialized. The bottom line for all of us is that we are working on the same job. We are all explorers. We spend our working lives, each day and each hour, discovering what... Read more
Dogs teach me important lessons about leadership. Though I do not live with an actual dog of my own, I meet canine mentors while walking around. It is educational to watch dogs leading their people around town. Some of them are even able to persuade their people to carry them. This week, not entirely by my own choice, I am learning from dogs at a televised show. It is a little like watching dog TED talks on leadership. We know about alpha dogs. Many breeds... Read more
We hear people say spiritual life is all about love. We believe it, but it is easy to forget. We are taught to think of love as a way we feel. Your love may make you feel warm and tingly, or deeply satisfied. It is an amazing feeling, a strong feeling, but it fades as we start feeling something else. The fact is that love, including the love filling spiritual life, is not about feeling a certain way. Love is deeper and... Read more
I have worked with quite a few people at a variety of jobs in different places. My experience includes working as an attorney, a criminal prosecutor. There are the courses I developed and taught as an adjunct professor. There are the corporations where I worked as an executive, both profit and nonprofit. I have a varied background. My work experience has given me opportunities to work with lots of people. Each of them taught me valuable lessons, gave me significant insights.... Read more
Strategic Monk
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