“Most of us move about with very narrow perception, sight, sound, smell, tactile and we miss most of the grandeur that is in the minutest thing, the smallest experience,” writes Robert Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader.

We also miss leadership opportunities.

“A qualification for leadership,” Robert writes, “is that one can tolerate a sustained wide span of awareness so that [we] better see it as it is.'”

So … continue reading

As servant leaders, what is the relationship between taking action and building trust?

This week we are looking at key learnings from Robert Greenleaf‘s seminal work on leadership The Servant as Leader.  Yesterday we looked at the primacy of initiative: everything begins with the initiative of the individual.  Leadership is about going out ahead and showing the way. He or she says, “I will go, follow me!” when … continue reading

“Who is responsible for the mediocre performance of so many of our institutions?” Robert Greenleaf asks in The Servant as Leader.

His answer is surprising.

“Not evil people. Not stupid people. Not apathetic people. Not the “system,’” Robert writes.  “The better society will come, if it comes, with plenty of evil, stupid, apathetic people around and with an imperfect, ponderous, inertia-charged “system” as the vehicle for change.” 

The real … continue reading

I’m a goal-setter.  I like setting goals.  Part of my identity is about setting and achieving goals.  I like structure.  A framework is a good thing.  Plan the work.  Work the plan.

I’ve also come to appreciate the reality of the saying:  “We plan.  God laughs.”

This week we are looking at some of the lessons from Dr. Daniel Friedland, author of Leading Well from Within.  Yesterday, we discussed … continue reading