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A LeaderA Leader

A person who has an unusual degree of power to A person who has an unusual degree of power to project on other people his or her shadow, or his or project on other people his or her shadow, or his or her light. And this power creates the conditions her light. And this power creates the conditions under which other people must live and move and under which other people must live and move and have their being. Conditions which can be have their being. Conditions which can be illuminating and uplifting to the people or conditions illuminating and uplifting to the people or conditions which can cast them into total darkness.which can cast them into total darkness.

Parker PalmerParker Palmer, Senior Associate of the American Association , Senior Associate of the American Association of Higher Education. In 1998, The Leadership Project, a of Higher Education. In 1998, The Leadership Project, a national survey of 10,000 administrators and faculty, named national survey of 10,000 administrators and faculty, named Palmer as one of the thirty “most influential senior leaders” in Palmer as one of the thirty “most influential senior leaders” in higher education and one of the ten key “agenda-setters” of higher education and one of the ten key “agenda-setters” of the past decade.the past decade.

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Vaclev Havelplaywright, dissident, prisonerPresident of Czechoslovakia

“America is approaching democracy uninterruptedly for more than 200 years, and your journey has never been disrupted by a totalitarian system.

The communist type of totalitarian system has brought us horrors that fortunately you have not known.But it has given us something positive, a special capacity to look from time to time somewhat further than someone who has not undergone this bitter experience. A person who cannot move and lead a somewhat normal life because he is pinned under a boulder has more time to think about his hopes than someone who is not trapped that way.

We must all learn many things from America, from how to educate our children, how to elect our representatives, all the way to how to organize our economic life so that it will lead to prosperity and not to poverty. But it doesn’t have to be merely assistance from the well-educated, powerful, and wealthy to someone who has nothing and therefore has nothing to offer in return.

We too can offer something to you: our experience and the knowledge that has come from it. The specific experience I’m talking about has given me one certainty; consciousness precedes being, and not the other way around, as the Marxists claim. For this reason, the salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and in human responsibility. Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness, nothing will change for the better in the sphere of our being as humans, and the catastrophe toward which this world is headed – be it ecological, social, demographic, or a general breakdown of civilization – will be unavoidable.”

Vaclev Havel, 1990

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LeadershipLeadership Leadership from WithinLeadership from Within

ConsciousnessConsciousness (the inward (the inward journey to confront those journey to confront those areas of shadow within us)areas of shadow within us)

Emphasizes skills to make Emphasizes skills to make the inward journey toward the inward journey toward internal awarenessinternal awareness

Journey emphasizes Journey emphasizes consciousness, awareness, consciousness, awareness, thoughtfulness, reflection, thoughtfulness, reflection, and authenticity as the first and authenticity as the first orderorder

Leadership is a matter of how to Leadership is a matter of how to be.be.

Leadership from WithoutLeadership from Without BeingBeing (the way we are (the way we are

without having taken the without having taken the inward journey toward inward journey toward conscience)conscience)

Emphasizes skills to Emphasizes skills to manipulate the external manipulate the external world (territory, wealth, world (territory, wealth, property, political access, property, political access, position, authority)position, authority)

Matter is more powerful Matter is more powerful than consciousness than consciousness (reflective thought), (reflective thought), economics more economics more fundamental than spirit, flow fundamental than spirit, flow of cash creates more reality of cash creates more reality than the flow of visions and than the flow of visions and ideas. Emphasize politics, ideas. Emphasize politics, economics, the material.economics, the material.

Leadership is a matter of how to Leadership is a matter of how to do.do.

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Havel “Consciousness precedes Havel “Consciousness precedes being”being”

How does consciousness precede How does consciousness precede being?being? Only by taking the inward journey, the Only by taking the inward journey, the

downward journey.downward journey. We travel down through the fear and the We travel down through the fear and the

terror of our shadow side until we reach terror of our shadow side until we reach that deep place where we can be in that deep place where we can be in community with each other.community with each other.

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When we take the inward When we take the inward journey, particularly with journey, particularly with

respect to leadership, what are respect to leadership, what are the areas of shadow which we the areas of shadow which we

must confront?must confront?

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LeadershipLeadership

Inward and Downward Inward and Downward (Trying to prove ourselves in the external world rather than (Trying to prove ourselves in the external world rather than

wrestling with our own inner identity)wrestling with our own inner identity)

ConsciousnessConsciousness Take the inward journeyTake the inward journey Develop a philosophy of Develop a philosophy of

life, have a clear life, have a clear understanding of the understanding of the principles in which I principles in which I believebelieve

BeingBeing People rise to leadership by a People rise to leadership by a

tendency toward extroversion, ignore tendency toward extroversion, ignore what’s going on inside themselveswhat’s going on inside themselves

Operate effectively and efficiently on Operate effectively and efficiently on the external world (oratory, fear, the external world (oratory, fear, persuasion)persuasion)

Develop skills to manipulate the Develop skills to manipulate the external world, easier than dealing external world, easier than dealing with the inner worldwith the inner world

a) Power (self or a) Power (self or others)others)

b) Compromiseb) Compromisec) Criticismc) Criticismd) Riskd) Riske) Time Demandse) Time Demandsf) Love, Forgivenessf) Love, Forgiveness

Emphasis here is on “Who I Am” Emphasis here is on “What I Do”

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ConsciousnessConsciousness Cooperation and Cooperation and

contribution to the contribution to the greater good is really greater good is really what matterswhat matters

Words and actions Words and actions should be congruent should be congruent because the process, because the process, the journey, is equally the journey, is equally importantimportant

BeingBeing Competition, life is a Competition, life is a

battlegroundbattleground Whatever it takes to Whatever it takes to

winwin Life is about wins and Life is about wins and

losseslosses Words and actions do Words and actions do

not have to be not have to be congruent because the congruent because the end product is all that end product is all that mattersmatters

Winning

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Consciousness (others Consciousness (others centered)centered) There are many acts in There are many acts in

town and some are town and some are better than mine – better than mine – credit belongs to credit belongs to othersothers

I don’t have to carry I don’t have to carry the whole loadthe whole load

I can share the loadI can share the load I can lay the load downI can lay the load down Healthy prioritiesHealthy priorities Emphasis on the teamEmphasis on the team

Being (self centered)Being (self centered) Everything rests with me – I Everything rests with me – I

am the center of the am the center of the universe, I have to stay universe, I have to stay there because I need credit there because I need credit for everything that for everything that happenshappens

I have ultimate I have ultimate responsibility for the total responsibility for the total outcomeoutcome

Tendency toward Tendency toward workaholic behavior, burn-workaholic behavior, burn-out, stressed, strained and out, stressed, strained and broken relationshipsbroken relationships

Unhealthy prioritiesUnhealthy priorities Emphasis is upon me or my Emphasis is upon me or my

programprogram

You can lead or you can take credit for leading, but you can’t do both

It’s Not About Me

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Level 5 LeaderLevel 5 Leader

Jim Collins discovered when analyzing the research for his book "Good to Jim Collins discovered when analyzing the research for his book "Good to Great," that the leaders who ran the "great" companies during the Great," that the leaders who ran the "great" companies during the transition from good-to-great were all "Level 5" leaders. For those of you transition from good-to-great were all "Level 5" leaders. For those of you not familiar with "Good to Great," the qualifying criteria was that a not familiar with "Good to Great," the qualifying criteria was that a company had to have achieved an average cumulative stock return of at company had to have achieved an average cumulative stock return of at least 3 times the market over a 15 year period. Only 11 of the Fortune 500 least 3 times the market over a 15 year period. Only 11 of the Fortune 500 companies met all the criteria they used.companies met all the criteria they used.

Collins said that the "data won" when it came to understanding the forces Collins said that the "data won" when it came to understanding the forces behind all good to great companies. In other words, his findings were behind all good to great companies. In other words, his findings were derived from hard data not from personal opinion or intuitions about what derived from hard data not from personal opinion or intuitions about what helped propel a company grow from good to great. "...Level 5 leadership is helped propel a company grow from good to great. "...Level 5 leadership is an empirical finding, not an ideological one."an empirical finding, not an ideological one."

Level 5 leaders are all very bright people who know their business. They have Level 5 leaders are all very bright people who know their business. They have the intellectual horsepower and domain knowledge to effectively manage the intellectual horsepower and domain knowledge to effectively manage their companies. That's the easy part.their companies. That's the easy part.

What separates them from the pack is their "personality attributes." Who they What separates them from the pack is their "personality attributes." Who they are, not just what they know.are, not just what they know.

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According to Collins there are five attributes that typify the According to Collins there are five attributes that typify the Level 5 Leader:Level 5 Leader:

1.1. They are self-confident enough to set up their successors for They are self-confident enough to set up their successors for success.success.

2.2. They are humble and modest.They are humble and modest.

3.3. They have "unwavering resolve."They have "unwavering resolve."

4.4. They display a "workmanlike diligence - more plow horse than show They display a "workmanlike diligence - more plow horse than show horse."horse."

5.5. They give credit to others for their success and take full They give credit to others for their success and take full responsibility for poor results. They "attribute much of their success responsibility for poor results. They "attribute much of their success to 'good luck' rather than personal greatness."to 'good luck' rather than personal greatness."

So, rein in your impulses to give "the answer" to your subordinates' So, rein in your impulses to give "the answer" to your subordinates' problems. Hire top people and delegate. Then, always give credit to problems. Hire top people and delegate. Then, always give credit to your team for any successes. Be wary when you are approached by your team for any successes. Be wary when you are approached by reporters who flatter you for your company's (teams') success. reporters who flatter you for your company's (teams') success. And... above all else, be accountable. Accept blame for failures but, And... above all else, be accountable. Accept blame for failures but, give credit to others for successes.give credit to others for successes.

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ConsciousnessConsciousness Willing to risk failureWilling to risk failure Have the courage to be imperfect Have the courage to be imperfect

(don’t need to protect title, position, (don’t need to protect title, position, authority)authority)

Tolerant of differencesTolerant of differences Appreciate diversityAppreciate diversity

Able to handle ambiguity, the Able to handle ambiguity, the shades of grayshades of gray

Emphasize mercy, compassionEmphasize mercy, compassion LincolnLincoln

BeingBeing Fearful of:Fearful of:

Negative evaluationsNegative evaluations Public failurePublic failure CriticismCriticism Natural chaos of lifeNatural chaos of life

Intolerant of differences, make enemies of:Intolerant of differences, make enemies of: RaceRace ReligionReligion EthnicityEthnicity Sexual orientationSexual orientation Economic systemsEconomic systems

Spend a great deal of time trying to Spend a great deal of time trying to eliminate chaos through the development of eliminate chaos through the development of rigid rules, procedures, manuals, etc. rigid rules, procedures, manuals, etc. Organize things so thoroughly that dissent, Organize things so thoroughly that dissent, innovation, challenge, change can never innovation, challenge, change can never raise its headraise its head

Life is black and whiteLife is black and white

Emphasize judgment (Every leader must Emphasize judgment (Every leader must judge but judgment will be more just if judge but judgment will be more just if consciousness precedes beingconsciousness precedes being

Relinquishment

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ConsciousnessConsciousness Welcomes changeWelcomes change Has the moral backing of Has the moral backing of

the eternal perspective the eternal perspective MLK – “Letters from a MLK – “Letters from a

Birmingham Jail”Birmingham Jail” Mother Teresa – “God Mother Teresa – “God

in Distressing in Distressing Disguises”Disguises”

Willing to sacrifice for the Willing to sacrifice for the next generationnext generation

BeingBeing Maintain the status quo. Maintain the status quo.

Don’t rock the boat Don’t rock the boat (Guiding Fiction).(Guiding Fiction).

Ignore the eternal Ignore the eternal perspectiveperspective

Protect our turf, it’s not Protect our turf, it’s not our problemour problem

There are leaders with great leadership skills who are successful at operating on the external world. They could have moved the world toward peace or unity or compromise (light side) but ignored consciousness before being (shadow side)

Truth or Fiction

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StraightStraight

TeacherTeacher

ParentParent

BusinessBusiness

MaleMale

WhitesWhites

GayGay

StudentStudent

ChildChild

LaborLabor

FemaleFemale

BlacksBlacks

Guiding Fiction

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ConsciousnessConsciousness Welcomes changeWelcomes change Has the moral backing of Has the moral backing of

the eternal perspective the eternal perspective MLK – “Letters from a MLK – “Letters from a

Birmingham Jail”Birmingham Jail” Mother Teresa – God in Mother Teresa – God in

Distressing DisguisesDistressing Disguises Willing to sacrifice for the Willing to sacrifice for the

next generationnext generation

BeingBeing Maintain the status quo. Maintain the status quo.

Don’t rock the boat Don’t rock the boat (Guiding Fiction).(Guiding Fiction).

Ignore the eternal Ignore the eternal perspectiveperspective

Protect our turf, it’s not Protect our turf, it’s not our problemour problem

There are leaders with great leadership skills who are successful at operating on the external world. They could have moved the world toward peace or unity or compromise (light side) but ignored consciousness before being (shadow side)

Truth or Fiction

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ConsciousnessConsciousness Understands the Understands the

pastpast Sees mistakes as Sees mistakes as

opportunities to opportunities to seek forgiveness seek forgiveness and undertake a and undertake a more positive more positive approachapproach

BeingBeing Ignores the pastIgnores the past Learns little from Learns little from

mistakesmistakes

The Prodigal

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QuestionsQuestions

Is who I am more important than Is who I am more important than what I do?what I do?

Are cooperation and contribution as Are cooperation and contribution as important to me as competition?important to me as competition?

Are my words and actions about my Are my words and actions about my deepest beliefs congruent?deepest beliefs congruent?

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QuestionsQuestions

Am I willing to share the burden and Am I willing to share the burden and give others credit rather than acting as give others credit rather than acting as if everything depended upon me?if everything depended upon me?

Do I have the courage to risk failure Do I have the courage to risk failure rather than spending all my time trying rather than spending all my time trying to protect a title, a position, an to protect a title, a position, an authority?authority?

Does my decision-making have eternal Does my decision-making have eternal backing?backing?

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QuestionsQuestions

Do I seek others’ preservation or self Do I seek others’ preservation or self preservation?preservation?

Do I value the history, respect the Do I value the history, respect the principles of tolerance, or is my way principles of tolerance, or is my way the only way? the only way?

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As a leader, the way I answer these As a leader, the way I answer these questions will determine if I project a questions will determine if I project a spirit of light or a spirit of shadow spirit of light or a spirit of shadow upon the external world which I upon the external world which I influence.influence.

Being (operating upon the external Being (operating upon the external world without ever having made the world without ever having made the journey toward consciousness) is by journey toward consciousness) is by far the modus operandi of most far the modus operandi of most leadership.leadership.

2020

Consciousness before being is the mark of Consciousness before being is the mark of great leadership. We will never get the great leadership. We will never get the opportunity to exert our influence upon the opportunity to exert our influence upon the entire world as these leaders have but we entire world as these leaders have but we ought to pay attention to their exampleought to pay attention to their example

Lincoln – King – Gandhi - Mother TeresaLincoln – King – Gandhi - Mother Teresa

Suffering under oppression gave them a Suffering under oppression gave them a reason to examine and the time to examine reason to examine and the time to examine consciousness, to understand that consciousness, to understand that “consciousness before being” is the only “consciousness before being” is the only way to real community.way to real community.

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External World 99% of leadership

Institutional identity “What I do!”

Life is about wins and losses I am the center of the universe Fear of failure Fear change, maintain the status quo Employ judgement, see others who are different as the enemy Self preservation Ignore the past Learn little from mistakes 1% of leadership

CONSCIOUSNESS

SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Shadow Side of Leadership

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Havel said,

“We are still a long way from that ‘family of man.’ In fact, we seem to be receding from the ideal rather than growing closer to it. Interests of all kinds - personal, selfish, state, nation, group, and if you like, company interests - still considerably outweigh genuinely common and global interests. We are still under the sway of the destructive and vain belief that man is the pinnacle of creation and not just part of it and that therefore everything is permitted.

“There are still many who say they are concerned not for themselves but the cause, while they are demonstrably out for themselves and not for the cause at all. We are still destroying the planet that was entrusted to us and its environment. We still close our eyes to the growing social, ethnic and cultural conflicts in the world. From time to time , we say that the anonymous mega-machinery we have created for ourselves no longer serves but rather has enslaved us, yet we still fail to do anything about it.

“In other words, we still don’t know how to put morality ahead of politics, science and economics. We are still incapable of understanding that the only genuine backbone of all our actions, if they are to be moral, is responsibility.

“Responsibility to something higher than my family, my country, my company, my success - responsibility to the order of being where all our actions are indelibly recorded and where and only where they will be properly judged.

“The interpreter or mediator between us and this higher authority is what is traditionally referred to as human conscience.”

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The least effective leader is that leader who The least effective leader is that leader who is feared by the people. A more effective is feared by the people. A more effective leader is that leader who is loved by the leader is that leader who is loved by the people. The most effective leader is that people. The most effective leader is that leader who, when the job is finished and leader who, when the job is finished and the prize is won, the people will say we did the prize is won, the people will say we did it ourselves.it ourselves.

A person can lead or take credit for leading A person can lead or take credit for leading but you can’t do both.but you can’t do both.

The essence of leadership is not what you The essence of leadership is not what you take in but what you give away.take in but what you give away.