Figure It Out Leadership
This morning talking with a woman who has spent her life (and most of her money) working to change the juvenile justice system – while also trying to wrest each individual child from its jaws when she could. I have this long list – so many of us spent decades on the long game and […]
Leadership Theory
Angela’s “Wastewater treatment plant” theory of leadership. You’re expected to take in all manner of dangerous crap, from every imaginable source, and turn it into pure drinkable water. You may be disrespected and abused but you can’t disrespect or abuse. You may be ignored but you don’t get to ignore. Your needs are a subject […]
Be Good for the World
I’m aggravating and I know it. My coaching/consulting style: Very annoying and loving big sister or older aunt that you know better than to call unless you really want to deal with the real. People pay me for this! My son says “nothing annoys you more, Mom, than undeveloped potential”. My brother Ted calls my […]
What’s on my mind? Feral Hogs.
Today I teach my graduate class about disaster and displacement – focusing on cities and policy responses. Shaped by empathy. Examples of leaders who act responsibly and who are willing to carry the weight of imperfect responses. Owning decisions and their consequences. Recognizing that each step enables some, disadvantages others. It’s all about being a […]
Leading in Disasters
For most of my life I took leadership for granted. I had no particular interest in “developing leadership”. I thought everyone was eager for the responsibility of leadership, driven by the demands of the mission and motivated to foster human development and eliminate unnecessary suffering. Fine. Mock me. You won’t be the first to think […]
LOST AND FOUND
Random thoughts on leadership: If you are a leader who needs *excellent* data to make a decision, you’re not a leader you’re a data follower. Nothing wrong with that – data is great – but know who you are. Data is like auditing. It already happened. It’s not a map of the future. Leaders use […]
Interdependence
This is a very useful rundown of what to expect re coronavirus. The more we listen to scientists the better off we will be. One thing I think about often is this: we live interdependently. Closely connected to everyone else in the world. We don’t want to believe that or deal with the implications of […]
Craft of Leading
It takes strength of character to build upon the success of strong leaders that came before you. Leaders need a solid core of meaning and purpose, combined with self awareness. Those folks that failed to develop character strengths, work to tear down what’s been built. Too afraid to take risks. Too scared to declare a […]
Passing It On…
When I spend time encouraging and mentoring younger leaders now, they’re very grateful. I remember that feeling – that sensation of relief and gratitude. Someone I thought important and powerful believing I was worth their time. It was my fuel. I did not need big room recognition. I needed small room encouragement and understanding. I […]
On Our Doorstep
I have this theory that we seek dictators and “strongmen” when we can’t or won’t bear the weight and responsibility of free will and interconnectedness. We don’t want to own all of our decisions – especially the ones we thought were right but turned out to be wrong. When what we did contributed to an […]