Category Archives: Leadership

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Vision

This past few weeks I’ve been revisiting some material on the topic of vision.  We talk a lot about visionary leaders and yet it surprises me how difficult it can be to clearly articulate a vision for ourselves or our organizations.

In preparing a workshop on personal transformation I keep coming back to the idea that in order to change we need to have a clearly defined picture in mind of where we want to go.

A book that I revisit from time to time is Dallas Willard’s book Renovation of the Heart. Willard writes, “if the vision is clear and strong, it will very likely pull everything else required along with it.”

What is your vision for your life?  Who would you be?  Who would you be without fear, anger, unforgiveness, lust, anxiety or doubt?

Who would you be if you were made whole?

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Stability – A Great Idea!

I watched the trailer for this new book called The Wisdom of Stability.   I love what the author says. It is a philosophy we’ve tried to live by in our family.  I haven’t said much here about our current journey.  Being uprooted (to keep with the image of the book cover) has been tough for us.  Not everyone embraces the wisdom of stability.   We live in a world where the sparkle of the new can be a relentless temptation.  We want new leaders, new visions, new cars, new furniture and new clothes.

We lose so much though when we walk away (or push away) prematurely.  The physical, emotional and spiritual waste pollutes our external and internal landscapes. Damaged relationships can be like toxic landfill sites – out of sight and out of mind.

We are staying put where we are until we know with certainty that it is the right time to move. Our small community of faithful friends and family are walking with us providing us with a sense of stability during this time of transition.

I’ve ordered this book and I will write about it when I’ve finished reading it.  Meanwhile – stay put.

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Is it a Wall or a Fence?

In an article called When Teams Can’t Decide published by the Harvard Business Review the author (Bob Frish) discusses testing fences and walls.   In decision making we often get shut down because of the apparent constraints in a situation.  Although the boundaries might be real we can ask the question whether is a wall, which can’t be moved or a fence, which can.

Recently I’ve been in a situation where a boundary has been presented as a wall.  It really is a fence and although it may be difficult to move it I am confident it can be moved.  I’m looking forward to some conversations about walls and fences.  Let’s move the fences!

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MBTI & Difficult Conversations

For years I’ve used the MBTI in my business to help explain differences and preferences in the workplace.    I’ve administered hundreds of the assessments and worked with all types of individuals and teams.

It still surprises me how often we default to our preferences in situations.  My type profile says one of my challenges is “avoid conflict, even when the organization’s performance is suffering.”   Re-reading some material recently on type and leadership has helped me recognize not only some of my own weaknesses and strengths but also those of people I work with.

It provides me with a common language to have a difficult conversation framed in a non-threatening way that recognizes differences and preferences.

It also gives me some insight into how to encourage and support people.

It doesn’t make it easier for this ‘ENFJ’ to confront – it does help me understand what holds me back from saying what needs to be said.

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Fear, Failure and Anxiety

By my desk I have a card from a coaching friend that says, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”    It is fairly standard coaching question.  It is also a good question. I think about it from time to time and occasionally am motivated to step out and do something even though failure could be an option.

This week I am doing something I’ve never done before.  The problem is I don’t know if I will fail or not.   I think a real growth question is: “What are you doing that might result in failure?”   That takes it into the real world.  There are lots of things I’d do if I knew I could not fail.   In fact, the guarantee of success makes it pretty easy.

Doing something with an unknown outcome is a challenge. The best part is in a few days I’ll be on the other side of it.  Fear, failure and anxiety will all be replaced with the inevitable growth that comes from doing something new, stretching myself and learning from the after action review.