Leadership from the inside out

I am enrolled in an awesome Environmental Leadership class sponsored by Acterra called Be the Change. We are reading a fantastic book, which I highly recommend for all changemakers: Stick Your Neck Out: A Street-Smart Guide to Creating Change in Your Community and Beyond by John Graham.

Today we focused on exploring a sense of place. Our retreat location was Foothills Park in Palo Alto. Here is a journal entry I wrote:

I watched the deer graze in the field. I imagined myself to be a deer. I mimicked their moves by walking with high knees and elegant long legs. My head was held high and alert. I pulled my elbows in to my ribs and bent my arms. Then I walked like a fox by rolling my feet inward with each step, careful to not make a sound. I flapped my arms out wide and fast like a hummingbird. I smelled the air like a coyote with a long snout. Then I lied down near a patch of mushrooms. The earth was wet. I closed my eyes and listened to the calls of the raven, white-tailed kite, and chestnut-backed chickadee. In the distance I heard the deep croak of a frog.

The visioning exercise helped me open up my senses. I think one of the most important attributes to being a good leader is being an active listener. A take-home quote for today is by Lao Tzu:

A leader is best when people barely know that he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worst when they despise him. "Fail to honor people, They fail to honor you." But of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, They will all say, "We did this ourselves."

A good leader is also someone who makes things fun and engaging, who uses humor, builds respect and is creative! It is especially helpful to use creative solutions and let nature inspire you. Leaders are not perfect. They admit their fears, faults and biases. Leaders also are responsible for making others feel comfortable and safe. Surely, leadership is a life-long training course...there is not doctrine because it is adaptive and should be modified all the time. What kind of leader are you?

The Bear: thinker, keeper of tradition, methodical, stubborn, indecisive
The Buffalo: warrior, quick to act, controlling, defensive
The Eagle: future-focused, overwhelmed, creative, sees the big picture
The Deer: supportive, trusting of others, assumes blame, values relationships, easily taken advantage of

I think I am mostly deer, with a little bear mixed in :)

Our homework assignment: be an archaeologist and undig yourself. Evaluate the patterns in your life. I'm excited and sign off with a final quote of inspiration from Posner and Kouzes, authors of The Leadership Challenge:

Leadership begins with something that grabs hold of you and won't let you go...To find your voice, you have to explore your inner territory...The mastery of the art of leadership comes from the mastery of the self.