I believe in the power of asking good questions and listening to how people respond. There was a time when I thought the most important part of any question was the answer. As an attorney, I cross-examined witnesses. I knew what answers I wanted them to give, and hoped I could fit them together to […]
Book Review: Great Leaders Ask Questions Read More »
There are times when we feel we have done everything we have set out to do. We may have accomplished our goals. We may have completed a very good year. We may have followed good advice, exceeded expectations, gotten things under control. We may even have overcome opposition and outscored competitors. There are also times
We may not remember much of anything from the story of Christmas in Bethlehem. The one thing we know is that Jesus was born in a manger because there was no other room. That baby was born into a busy world. People had things to do, places to go, people to see, taxes to pay. Their lives were filled
Spiritual Life Creates Sacred Space Read More »
So, what have we learned this year? 1. Back row leaders have probably taught me more than those up in front of the room. Back row leaders tend to be more open to the questions I ask. When do you lead from the back row? 2. Spiritual life has a way of breaking or transcending the rules. There is very
12 Things We Learned in 2015 Read More »
Some people think spiritual life has already happened in the past. They may feel spiritual life is like chivalry or falconry, a memory of some distant glory. Some people dispute and argue about arcane differences of interpretation. They work to understand ancient sacred texts or study the history of spiritual heroes. Some people look for enlightenment in books written
Spiritual Life is Now Read More »
We want to do as much as we possibly can in the shortest amount of time. Our long term thinking goes into making annual plans for this year. We have quarterly goals, monthly objectives, weekly themes, the word of the day. It is as if we do not want to be distracted with where we
How Long Will This Take? Read More »
We are immersed in a culture with a clear perspective on violence and force. Our nation was born through a violent revolution. While violence may not always be our first inclination, we often do not hesitate to rely on it. We believe it is possible to use force to resolve conflicts. We believe it is possible
Violence and Silence Read More »
We hear people talk about a shortage of leadership. It as if we had mined all the leadership we could out of the earth and were running short. Traditional fossil leadership is expensive and will not get the job done. The leadership which will carry us into the future is renewable. Each of us has the potential
Renewable Leadership Read More »
My understanding of spiritual life, the ways I live it in the world, are shaped by my experiences. Some of my experiences are gained from my church. I am part of a liturgical church. One of the things we do is divide the year into liturgical seasons. This weekend we begin a new season, the first
Spiritual Life is Light in the Darkness Read More »
We think of leaders as people who are focused on what needs to be done. Great leaders are not distracted by interpersonal conflict, politics, or physical obstacles. We depend on leaders to have a plan, foresee challenges, and find ways to put the plan in action. We expect our leaders to help us get
Finding Your Leadership Center Read More »
