Saturday, November 1, 2014
What does it mean when you say "They are looking for leadership"?
We are going through a cyclical agony of dealing with the issue of Town Water being put in - or not - in our neighborhood and some surrounding neighborhoods. The last administration botched their part in this by doing their work without transparency and daylight. This left the Community fractionated and irritated. There are a small group of folks (particularly those that were on the committee) that think the work they did was great. It actually was a good piece of negotiation in general. What they don't seem to realize is that all the work they did that was never made a matter of public record doesn't really exist. The final proposal that they got from the town was never distributed or voted on. I tell you all this to give context for the statement that I want to reflect on in today's post.
My position has been through my previous two Presidencies and indeed this third that the function of the Executive Committee in a Community context is not to make the decision but rather to facilitate the Community's process of negotiation and decision making.
One of the members of the Executive Committee (one at least!) doesn't agree and thinks that "They are looking for our Leadership".
What he and I mean by Leadership are very different in this context. I am meaning the Leadership of facilitation and he is meaning the leadership of fulfilling executive function (read thinking) for.
Years back, in 1990 and 1991 I was experimenting with the Sacred Clown and Political Theater by creating a public persona of Phul Evriman, a Presidential candidate. His motto was "Remember to Think for Yourself"
It is very important to remember to think about two things in this situation; who actually is they? and, that when you are President you are leading everyone who agrees with you as well as everyone who doesn't agree with you. Leading only those that agree with you is a very different animal (farm) from leading the whole Community. Leading from the follow me if you agree with me position inevitably divides the Community further. You may well manage a to persuade a majority but the minority will resent you. If you lead the whole Community and do it from a follow me and have your say position the Community will be stronger regardless of the margin.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Losing the capacity for reasoned inquiry
Banished for Questioning the Gospel of Guns
A Lonely Quest for Facts on Genetically Modified Crops
Monday, February 27, 2012
This I Believe; The fast way is the slow way.
I first heard that truth sitting on a metal folding chair in a small office on
Joe taught me much more than how to improvise on my trumpet. He taught me how to approach each moment, each task in my life as it happens. Joe taught me that the fast way really is the slow way.
This means focusing on the process, not the outcome. It means making the process work for you, working with the process. Too often we, in our impatience, work against the process.
To play Jazz I needed to go through the process of becoming fluent in the alphabet of music – the scales. The major scales, the minor scales, the diminished and harmonic minors. And then the chords and then the classic tunes and then… How do you do that? The slow way, practice every day. Focus, breath – make the time; keep the time. There is no other way. So the slow way is the fast way because it is the only way.
I knew all this from Joe, but it took me time to learn it. And it turns out to be true in everything that I do. I’m still learning all those things about playing and now I practice; every day.
And this has become the way I approach all my actions; parenting, partnering with my spouse, making love, counseling my clients, leading and especially, simply paying attention.
In all things the slow way requires that I sustain my vulnerability, listen as deeply as I can to my intonation and sing for all I’m worth.
I like to cook from scratch; making all the stocks and sauces, hand making the pasta and even growing the produce when I can. I don’t use recipes but rather follow forms and improvise; making up new words with the alphabet of flavor and texture, association and history.
Always taking the time to focus on the process, to make it beautiful every time.
Just like playing the cycle of fifths – boring and hackneyed and likely filled with forced errors if you rush through it – as beautiful as song if you strive to give the simplest detail grace.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Reflections on Leadership and Membership
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Duty of Membership is Leadership
• When you are leading people watch everything you do
• Leadership requires self awareness
• Leadership is a responsibility
• Everyone can lead and leading is a choice
• Leadership requires taking risks
• When you are a Leader people put their well being in your hands;
always respect that.