Archive for March, 2007
March 30, 2007 at 7:12 pm ·
This week I stumbled upon a local artist who teaches - and before my self-doubt could get in the way, I booked into his Wednesday class. I had never painted with oils before, and it was with some trepidation and much excitement I opened the little wooden gate and entered his studio. All the places were set-up with paint on palettes, boards on easels, ready for his students to take their places. The love and care that had gone into the preparation was evident, and as the 6 other students arrived, I could hardly contain myself. I was the “newbie” - a little over dressed, and naively under prepared for how messy the process can be. A delightful lady was quick to give me a painting shirt, and I was all set.
Under the expert guidance of a master teacher, I watched in awe as 7 masterpieces unfolded. We were all painting a scene from Hinchinbrook Island and Peter patie
ntly and lovingly made every student feel like they were Rembrandt. Even when one person mixed far too much blue into the yellow, when another kept asking him questions he’d already answered, and yet another spilled their turps he stayed calm and positive. It was great to leave the lesson with a painting to be proud of, yet it was the energy and vitality that was residual for the rest of the day and into the next day that amazed me. I reflected on what it was that made it such an uplifting experience… it wasn’t the high from the smell of the oil paints, it wasn’t that the painting itself was pretty good, it wasn’t even the comraderie or conversation even though that was fabulous too. It was the energy that comes from positive acknowledgement, from being recognised as special, affection without affectation, and having someone hold the vision for me that success was possible whilst I struggled to imagine it for myself! Peter expected that everyone would do well. He sincerely believes in the genius in each of us.
In our leadership workshops, we state several key assumptions at the beginning of a program - one of which is “assume everyone is a genius”. This creates interesting reactions - from agreement to outright indignation and audible gasps of disbelief. Participants are so uncomfortable with this assumption, that we suggest they score the statement with a level from 1 - 10 (1 being totally disbelieving and 10 being in total agreement) on day 1. By Day 4, they usually adjust their score upwards and closer to 10!
How would your work and home life improve if you embrace this assumption? Try it for a week, and I promise you will be surprised and delighted.
Filed under Leadership, Communication, Values, Different Thinking/p
March 27, 2007 at 4:59 pm ·
The highlight of my week was my participation in the inaugural World Leadership Day, an inspiring, thought-provoking, intimate and confronting day of dialogue, presentation, reflection and connection with like-hearted people. This event came from the vision of an amazing woman, Elisabeth Gorstchacher, who dares us all to “step up and lead from our authentic place in the sun”.
Elisabeth, with fabulous support from Meg Campbell Dowling and Jean Woo, generously guided us through the discovery of our Spirit Archetypes – a taste of the impact and momentum that can be harnessed by knowing your “Personal Branding DNA”.
She is passionate that each of us take ownership of our unique offering to the world, and promises that when we connect with what we’re truly here to do, it changes our whole life.” Elisabeth is a wonderful example of her work in action, and knows that there is a leader in every person. If we want to know the most wonderful source of renewable energy, then it is us!
We also learned from a diverse range of leaders who shared their stories and gave us real examples of visionary leadership in action. Margaret Wright, artist, author and consultant, shared quotes from the leaders she has interviewed in her soon to be released book, “Mistakes Happen, Make the most of them” as well as her inspirational personal story. She suggests there are three things leaders must Surrender – Competition, Control, and the need to be the best.
Aaron Caldwell, of Good Deeds International, had us spellbound with his example of Leadership In Action – his quest to save Vietnamese Rosa, and all children who are victims of slavery and persecution. Tears unashamedly flowed as he shared his emotional journey that enabled us to answer a convincing “Yes!” to the title of his address, “Can one person truly influence global positive change?”
There was no after lunch drowsiness when Paul Gilding, CEO of Ecos Corporation Pty Ltd , co-CEO of Easy Being Green and activist for love, gave us a wonderfully warm, sincere, high energy presentation on what it takes to be an agent for change! He gave us a warts-and-all account of his lifelong passion for making a difference, delivered with such humility, compassion and acknowledgement that he wasn’t always “right” and made mistakes along the way. He has a company with a clear purpose, compelling vision, and warns potential employees that if they need security and certainty, then apply elsewhere. Paul’s key tips for leadership are:
1. Make the purpose real – talk about it, live it every day and
2. Love your people!
A panel discussion encouraged dialogue with all participants, and wonderful insights into what it takes to lead into the 21st Century. Elisabeth’s vision for World Leadership Day to be a recognised annual event is manifesting – it’s happening again on 20th March 2008. Mark the date in your diary, and I look forward to celebrating with you.
Filed under Leadership/p
March 15, 2007 at 8:42 am ·
Last week I had the pleasure of working with a group of leaders in a country town – a vibrant community in Australia’s glorious Hunter Valley whose livelihood depends mostly on the mining, wine and tourism industries. Each person in the workshop is actively involved in community service, their energy, optimism and commitment to service is inspirational.
We were discussing the attitudes of “locals” to “blow-ins” (i.e. people who reside in the town who were actually born there, as were their parents and grandparents before them) versus those who had come from outside – the “transients”. Despite having settled there, building homes, having children and sending them to the local schools (some of these people have been in the community for more than twenty years) they are still just “blow-ins”. Interestingly enough, these very same people were the majority on the boards of the local service organisations, the ones who give generously of their time and expertise to ensure that there is a prosperous future for their children (and all the children in the town). One of my participants shared the story of having a “local who was born there” explain to him very seriously that he couldn’t consider himself a “real local” unless he was here for the 1955 flood!
As I drove the few hundred kilometres home, I couldn’t help but reflect on how these ingrained attitudes, whilst appearing to be said lightheartedly, perhaps even delivered with the good old friendly Aussie back-slap, continue to separate and divide. In our organisations, how often do we diminish and ignore fresh ideas when they come from “newbies”? In our lives, how often do we reject “new wisdom” because “you just don’t know what it’s really like – you haven’t been here long enough!”
In a workshop the following day (same company) a talented young man dismissed his opinion by saying, “… but I’m just a trainee”. I challenged the use of the word just… after all, what better place to view an organisation from than that of an enthusiastic new “trainee” - keen to learn everything about his new role, thrilled to have been considered for a position straight out of school, and filled with a passion for possibility that hasn’t yet felt the sting of rejection often enough to stop putting forth his ideas. Then, it gave me an excuse to refer to the delicious Johnny Depp in “Finding Neverland” - the scene where he dances with his dog, Porthos, explaining that he is a dancing bear in the circus. Little Peter dismisses the act by saying,
“That’s absurd. He’s just a dog”… and in his most gorgeous accent, Johnny Depp stops horrified….”just a dog? Porthos dreams of being a bear, and you want to shatter those dreams by saying he’s “just” a dog? What a horrible candle-snuffing word. That’s like saying, “He can’t climb that mountain, he’s just a man”, or “That’s not a diamond, it’s just a rock.”
Just.
Filed under Different Thinking, Musings/p
March 8, 2007 at 7:41 pm ·
After eagerly anticipating my site “going live” and the chance to blog regularly, I find that ever since the wonderful Leah Maclean showed me the way and set me free to write to my heart’s content, I have had a brain-freeze. I have started numerous posts, only to be lost for words, and reluctantly log-off without publishing. I imagined entertaining, educational and life-changing words of wisdom would just flow from my fingertips (just like they seem to for Patti Digh) once I had the tools - if only that was all I needed.
So, contemplating my plight, I reflected on how much my inner perfectionist keeps me a prisoner offline too - I pick up the paintbrush all excited, only to find it stops just short of making a bold statement on the canvas. I start another chapter in my book, then stop when the inner perfectionist starts harping on about the irrelevance and pointlessness (is that a word?) of my words. I agonise over writing proposals, taking up every single minute till the deadline - making life *hell* for myself and those nearest and dearest as I struggle to make it “perfect”.
Enough! This is my public declaration that I am evicting this tiresome tenant that has been in residence in my life for far too long… I look forward to writing more regularly - keep an eye out for the spelling misteaks.
Filed under Musings/p
