A seminar that I attended this past week addressed how the development of humanity can be likened to seeds that are planted and leaven yeast with dough emerging into the bread of kindness, universal love and caring. In dwelling on these thoughts, I realized that the development of that organic leadership is very much in the same vein.
As the seminar revealed to me: “From even the smallest of seeds, mustard seeds, pine nuts, and mighty plants emerge” I realized that great and wonderful things can grow from things that seem to us humans so insignificant and out of everyday ordinaryiness…. Just like that of a “few tiny grains of yeast can leaven whole loaves of bread”.
Organic leadership is like kneading dough… in our daily bread- in the making of it and in the sharing of it. This process is like herbs growing and farmers farming, we are much more conscious of where our bread comes from . It is a daily journey of every day ordinary work . The seminar brought forward Oscar Wilde’s poignant reflection that “ what people need is not so much high imaginative art, but that which hallows the vessels of everyday use” seems to apply very well here indeed.
The vision of humanity expressed at this seminar can be that of organic leadership because we need the vision of the caring and humane world to inspire us as healers and reconcilers in creation of the human spirit – an important ingredient for the recipe of organic leadership.
So, loving leadership -the highest form of organic leadership- can be part of this creation.. The art of making bread can be an analogy for the art of loving leadership. The seminar mentioned that” Good recipes are like good stories- they embody truth and experience.”
There is a well known tradition in the Amish culture – a great well-loved and time honored custom. This custom is a great bread recipe known as Amish Friendship Bread, which found its seeds of origin( pardon the pun) among the Amish people- Mennonites essentially- in Pennsylvania. This practice involves a form of sourdough bread that begins with a starter portion and is in turn shared amongst the community, along with the ensuing batches of bread.
Each person nurtures a portion of the starter for several days, and then uses some to bake bread. S/he then passes on some to other people who nurture and tend it, then gives some to others and thus it continues in this fashion.
The analogy of the starter in essence spreads like yeast throughout the community is a core principle of organic leadership.
This tradition is an example of every day ordinariness that is transformed into universal community values. Organic leadership and its end result - loving leadership, is not rocket science, you don’t need a Ph.D. to develop it, nor do you need a highly complex matrix of systems for its evolution. Possibly, this is why it is so hard for us to comprehend and assimilate it into our natural ecosystems. Organic and loving leadership has to ferment and grow from the natural yeast of our organic foundation: a foundation that is built upon caring, respect and honouring of the individual no matter who or what they are.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Becoming a Better Leader of Your Team
To become a better leader of your team:
1. Start with yourself- by growing into a leader.
a) Listen empathically ( listen with authentic and genuine concern) to your team.
b) Develop new skills for yourself e.g. mediation, project management, negotiation, conflict resolution, etc.
c) Raise the bar for yourself- expect more from yourself.
2. Work on developing “authentic ethics”- those that grow from a place of genuine caring and respect for the individual.
3. Remember to be always available to the community and to your team- there should be no barriers for this interactive, caring, and continuous dialogue.
4. Recognize you have to come from a place of abundance in your attitude- people rise to your level of expectations and your concern for them.
5. Develop co- leadership- often the best leadership is shared leadership. Camelot had a round table for a reason- in that all those who sat at the table were regarded as equal in value and status - no one was above anyone else in their noble quest.
6. Maintain a positive genuine attitude and your energy as your bricks and mortar. By putting these into the foundation of your leadership development, you will be getting more out of what you put out into it.
7. Shift your perspective from “me” to “we”- from self-serving to serving others. This is the new spiritual paradigm shift.
8. Recognize that you are working towards a higher purpose in a new leadership value system that is emerging and transforming. Leadership is not just about getting through to people’s heads, but it is also about getting into their hearts. To embody and embrace this fact may help you as you walk the pathway to becoming a better leader for your team.
1. Start with yourself- by growing into a leader.
a) Listen empathically ( listen with authentic and genuine concern) to your team.
b) Develop new skills for yourself e.g. mediation, project management, negotiation, conflict resolution, etc.
c) Raise the bar for yourself- expect more from yourself.
2. Work on developing “authentic ethics”- those that grow from a place of genuine caring and respect for the individual.
3. Remember to be always available to the community and to your team- there should be no barriers for this interactive, caring, and continuous dialogue.
4. Recognize you have to come from a place of abundance in your attitude- people rise to your level of expectations and your concern for them.
5. Develop co- leadership- often the best leadership is shared leadership. Camelot had a round table for a reason- in that all those who sat at the table were regarded as equal in value and status - no one was above anyone else in their noble quest.
6. Maintain a positive genuine attitude and your energy as your bricks and mortar. By putting these into the foundation of your leadership development, you will be getting more out of what you put out into it.
7. Shift your perspective from “me” to “we”- from self-serving to serving others. This is the new spiritual paradigm shift.
8. Recognize that you are working towards a higher purpose in a new leadership value system that is emerging and transforming. Leadership is not just about getting through to people’s heads, but it is also about getting into their hearts. To embody and embrace this fact may help you as you walk the pathway to becoming a better leader for your team.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Communicating Authentically
At a seminar this past weekend, I , in my learning journey, rechannelled some interesting key concepts into my already established knowledge base on this subject that I will share with you..
These concepts focus on “Who you are being is the center of your success”.
It is important to have the integrity of authentic expression and be in integrity with your body language.
You can be best speaker in the world but if your body language is incongruent with your message and betrays your authentic expression, then you have lost all credibility.
To add to these thoughts, I say that in authentic communication, you have to speak to the voice of your audience’s understanding( whether it be one person or an entire group) . This is one way to communicate compassionately and empathetically. Your facial expression, body language and intonation/ inflection of your voice must be in synchronization with the oneness of your integrity, and your desire to be truthful and faithful to your audience.
These concepts focus on “Who you are being is the center of your success”.
It is important to have the integrity of authentic expression and be in integrity with your body language.
You can be best speaker in the world but if your body language is incongruent with your message and betrays your authentic expression, then you have lost all credibility.
To add to these thoughts, I say that in authentic communication, you have to speak to the voice of your audience’s understanding( whether it be one person or an entire group) . This is one way to communicate compassionately and empathetically. Your facial expression, body language and intonation/ inflection of your voice must be in synchronization with the oneness of your integrity, and your desire to be truthful and faithful to your audience.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Don't act on your emotion of anger
****In moments of friction, be the mature one. Don't act on your emotion, and express your words out of anger. Instead express your words out of empathy and support. Take the time to see the person' s world view of that situation and reflect that view in your response. ******
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Renewing Yourself in Serendipity-Ways to Enhance Your Creativity
Here below is a brief article I wrote to motivate you when you need to think "outside-the-box", to overcome writer's block, or to manage stress in a more creative way.
Be a continual explorer- make every day an adventure in serendipity by stretching yourself and trying something new everyday.
Shift from left-brain to right -brain activities, such as doing mathematical equations or for me balancing my checkbook, to writing a poem or a letter. Doing so will balance the wonders and workings of the mind.
Learn to meditate.
Try yoga and tai chi that links the mind to the body.
Delve into books of the spiritual realm, such as those written by Deepak Chopra. ” The Prophet” and “Bhavard Ghita” are also two classics everyone should read along with “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “Five People You Will Meet in Heaven.”
Make friends from all different countries and all walks of life. Travel to these countries when you have the opportunity to do so.
Try new foods –eat at different restaurants you have never been before.
Spend time with children to reconnect with your inner child. Remember to play!
Make snow angels, buy yourself stuff toys and name them, eat licorice and chew bubble gum, and do cannonballs in the pool.
Make a holiday for each month. Celebrate Groundhog Day, Friday the 13th, etc.. Send out cards for these special holidays.
Save special cartoons that speak to you, laminate and frame them in a place of importance for you. Send some of the cartoons to persons who may need them for motivation.
Create a collage of how you would like your life to be: work, leisure, and personal relationships, etc. Laminate and place it where you can see it often.
Learn a new language.
Watch cartoons, children’s programs, and movies to reconnect with the wondrous spirit of a child.
Review a new article or book every month from many different fields and share it with others.
Start a journal in which you can write your thoughts. What are your secret dreams? Who are the people that can help you achieve them? Write something positive every day that has happened to you and what you have learned from that experience.
Volunteer your time (whether it is as a virtual volunteer or in person) with an organization of your interest. Helping others can renew your spirit in a very special way.
Commit acts of random kindness.
Keep a notebook with you at all times to record significant thoughts, ideas, even names and phone numbers of people you meet that become kindred spirits in your life.
Call or email someone you have not connected with in awhile; they may just be in need of your special caring.
Now, think of other ways you can renew yourself in Serendipity – keep this list growing every day of your life!
Copyright © D. A. Wright May 2008
Be a continual explorer- make every day an adventure in serendipity by stretching yourself and trying something new everyday.
Shift from left-brain to right -brain activities, such as doing mathematical equations or for me balancing my checkbook, to writing a poem or a letter. Doing so will balance the wonders and workings of the mind.
Learn to meditate.
Try yoga and tai chi that links the mind to the body.
Delve into books of the spiritual realm, such as those written by Deepak Chopra. ” The Prophet” and “Bhavard Ghita” are also two classics everyone should read along with “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “Five People You Will Meet in Heaven.”
Make friends from all different countries and all walks of life. Travel to these countries when you have the opportunity to do so.
Try new foods –eat at different restaurants you have never been before.
Spend time with children to reconnect with your inner child. Remember to play!
Make snow angels, buy yourself stuff toys and name them, eat licorice and chew bubble gum, and do cannonballs in the pool.
Make a holiday for each month. Celebrate Groundhog Day, Friday the 13th, etc.. Send out cards for these special holidays.
Save special cartoons that speak to you, laminate and frame them in a place of importance for you. Send some of the cartoons to persons who may need them for motivation.
Create a collage of how you would like your life to be: work, leisure, and personal relationships, etc. Laminate and place it where you can see it often.
Learn a new language.
Watch cartoons, children’s programs, and movies to reconnect with the wondrous spirit of a child.
Review a new article or book every month from many different fields and share it with others.
Start a journal in which you can write your thoughts. What are your secret dreams? Who are the people that can help you achieve them? Write something positive every day that has happened to you and what you have learned from that experience.
Volunteer your time (whether it is as a virtual volunteer or in person) with an organization of your interest. Helping others can renew your spirit in a very special way.
Commit acts of random kindness.
Keep a notebook with you at all times to record significant thoughts, ideas, even names and phone numbers of people you meet that become kindred spirits in your life.
Call or email someone you have not connected with in awhile; they may just be in need of your special caring.
Now, think of other ways you can renew yourself in Serendipity – keep this list growing every day of your life!
Copyright © D. A. Wright May 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
