Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009Dream...Believe...Achieve
How does a leader move from “intention” to “achievement”?
Our graduates vocalized 23 different versions, all incredibly powerful and from the heart. I’d like to share six randomly chosen comments from...
Your Hot Seat Moments
“I needed to see through the tunnel or barrel, rise out of my comfort zone. I am LEARNING that nothing is really that scary.
(Except maybe the monsters that still live under the bed and in the closet.....and we all have those)”
These challenges have changed me.
Stop, look, listen, inquire, be calm and stop blaming.”
“I’m quiet, and I’m comfortable with that.
If I don’t understand you, you’ll hear from me.
If I don’t agree with you, you’ll hear from me.
If I have something to say, I will add value.
Or if I’ve had too many drinks...”
“It’s about being able to give them permission.
It’s a relationship, a delicate process.
As a leader I may have to ask friends to do things they don’t like.
I don’t go out for coffee with them as often as I used to, because they need time to bitch about management,
and that used to be one our (and my) favourite topics.
I have to hold back.”
"I'm now a better public speaker, and I accept the person that I am, not who I should be. I spent so much time looking inward, not so much on community. This forced me to take the time to reflect."
“I had some things written down, but now I’m going to wing it,
talk from the heart because that’s what I do.
LTB has opened my eyes so wide; I came out of my box totally, doing things like chairing meetings, helping with the food bank now instead of waiting for Christmas and even got my husband involved.
I’ve loved this year, meeting everyone.
I was so nervous at first in going to Sibley.
My level of confidence has gone through the roof.”
“I was surprised at how painful it was, internally.
I felt like I wanted to be a leader, and then, no I don’t. I would feel this conflict, learn about myself.
I misunderstood what a leader is.
I can be a leader with my kids.
Leadership means self care and integrity. That’s a priority.”
“I’ve heard over and over again, that leadership is
to become the person you want to be.
But pull it back from there: be who you are, look in the mirror.
A better expression by Glenn Gould is
the only thing that matters is the person you are.
It really comes back to being honest with who you are.
It’s a process of working and then stepping back: what’s my part in it?"
Kudos to Curriculum Committee member, Glenn Allison for suggesting the Hot Seat! based on his vibrant experience with the Leadership Waterloo program.
As we’ve heard from numerous presenters, stating goals verbally and publicly, concisely, articulately, helps them - and their teams - move from intention to positive action.
Here is Glenn Allison’s Hot Seat message to the class:
The Nature of Promise
I’d like to send a brief comment to our graduates on the Space of Possibility and Commitments as Who We Say We Are.
......forgive the ramblings of an old man, but I recalled something from my past at Leadership Waterloo that might prove helpful, and would connect.
In my day we used to speak of the Technology of Agreements.
Basically, it was about keeping your word and it went something like this:
* as fish are to water, and birds are to air, human beings live in language
* we speak our world into being (One of the most memorable is Martin Luther King’s: I have a dream......)
* so too, our world speaks us if we let it
* leaders know the personal and collective power of the given word. (For example, marriage is essentially the community called together to witness the word of relationship...)
* being one with our word is how we remain whole and healthy: in other words, (I am who I say I am, I have what is mine, and I will do what I promise)
* when we break our word,
we are no longer who we have said ourselves to be:
we are no longer integral with our word
- we have absolutely no place to take a stand.
The world is quicksand.
The trick here is being responsible,
without burden, fault, praise, blame, credit, shame or guilt.
As you walk your leadership journey,
* make sure that you communicate that you are and
will continue be - your word once given, and always be so.
Then, you will have for your self - the space to stand.
You will be grounded.
* what are our collective agreements as opposed to personal agreements? How do find out space in family, in group, in society?
* what might the world be like if we were all whole, if we all kept our word?The Buddhists have an expression that, when paraphrased, goes like this:
When you keep a promise, you are profoundly human.
When you don't, you are ass wipe. And who needs a room full of that?
Stop, look, listen, inquire, be calm and stop blaming.”
“I’m quiet, and I’m comfortable with that.
If I don’t understand you, you’ll hear from me.
If I don’t agree with you, you’ll hear from me.
If I have something to say, I will add value.
Or if I’ve had too many drinks...”
“It’s about being able to give them permission.
It’s a relationship, a delicate process.
As a leader I may have to ask friends to do things they don’t like.
I don’t go out for coffee with them as often as I used to, because they need time to bitch about management,
and that used to be one our (and my) favourite topics.
I have to hold back.”
"I'm now a better public speaker, and I accept the person that I am, not who I should be. I spent so much time looking inward, not so much on community. This forced me to take the time to reflect."
“I had some things written down, but now I’m going to wing it,
talk from the heart because that’s what I do.
LTB has opened my eyes so wide; I came out of my box totally, doing things like chairing meetings, helping with the food bank now instead of waiting for Christmas and even got my husband involved.
I’ve loved this year, meeting everyone.
I was so nervous at first in going to Sibley.
My level of confidence has gone through the roof.”
“I was surprised at how painful it was, internally.
I felt like I wanted to be a leader, and then, no I don’t. I would feel this conflict, learn about myself.
I misunderstood what a leader is.
I can be a leader with my kids.
Leadership means self care and integrity. That’s a priority.”
“I’ve heard over and over again, that leadership is
to become the person you want to be.
But pull it back from there: be who you are, look in the mirror.
A better expression by Glenn Gould is
the only thing that matters is the person you are.
It really comes back to being honest with who you are.
It’s a process of working and then stepping back: what’s my part in it?"
Kudos to Curriculum Committee member, Glenn Allison for suggesting the Hot Seat! based on his vibrant experience with the Leadership Waterloo program.
As we’ve heard from numerous presenters, stating goals verbally and publicly, concisely, articulately, helps them - and their teams - move from intention to positive action.
Here is Glenn Allison’s Hot Seat message to the class:
The Nature of Promise
I’d like to send a brief comment to our graduates on the Space of Possibility and Commitments as Who We Say We Are.
......forgive the ramblings of an old man, but I recalled something from my past at Leadership Waterloo that might prove helpful, and would connect.
In my day we used to speak of the Technology of Agreements.
Basically, it was about keeping your word and it went something like this:
* as fish are to water, and birds are to air, human beings live in language
* we speak our world into being (One of the most memorable is Martin Luther King’s: I have a dream......)
* so too, our world speaks us if we let it
* leaders know the personal and collective power of the given word. (For example, marriage is essentially the community called together to witness the word of relationship...)
* being one with our word is how we remain whole and healthy: in other words, (I am who I say I am, I have what is mine, and I will do what I promise)
* when we break our word,
we are no longer who we have said ourselves to be:
we are no longer integral with our word
- we have absolutely no place to take a stand.
The world is quicksand.
The trick here is being responsible,
without burden, fault, praise, blame, credit, shame or guilt.
As you walk your leadership journey,
* make sure that you communicate that you are and
will continue be - your word once given, and always be so.
Then, you will have for your self - the space to stand.
You will be grounded.
* what are our collective agreements as opposed to personal agreements? How do find out space in family, in group, in society?
* what might the world be like if we were all whole, if we all kept our word?The Buddhists have an expression that, when paraphrased, goes like this:
When you keep a promise, you are profoundly human.
When you don't, you are ass wipe. And who needs a room full of that?
So I ask, in a magical counter-cultural way,
that you consider yourself as space.
You are, after all, the space in which your own life happens.
In all probability, after LTB, you are in
an inspired space of community wellbeing.
You were the space of inquiry, curiosity, wonderment and growth as you entered the programme.
As you leave it, you are being asked to consider what that space now looks like.
What do you find arising in that space?
What kinds of commitments do you sense are developing in the space that you now are.
How do you regard your own leadership space?
Cheers and I look forward to your successes. - Glenn Allison
May your lives be rich and rewarding. May your efforts - large or small - ripple into our communities - large or small.
May you always remember this experience in leadership and your colleagues who have had a hand in your journey.
- Maggie
PS: Now that you've finished your official program and you have time to reflect...these XOWhat blog archives may be interesting reading... and may even make more sense!
Your comments always appreciated.
This blog is officially taking a break...until next August, when the class of 2009-2010 checks in...Your subscription never ends...
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