“Reflection involves not simply a sequence of ideas, but a consequence~ consecutive ordering in such a way that each determines the next as its proper outcome, while each in turn leans back on its predecessors. ”~ John Dewey via Brain Pickings
Before there were Systems Thinkers…there was Proverbs and the one below serves as a reminder to dig deep when searching for solutions to our problems. Surprisingly, many Systems problems can be solved when we are willing to step backwards, put our existing beliefs aside and learn from the patterns. What is your nail?
This week’s recommended reading is once again by Steve Keating titled, “Always be Learning”
As well as this TED video with Chess Grand Master Maurice Ashley on retrograde analysis.
“I am still learning” Michelangelo
Posted Friday May 20th
This morning I read an article in my local paper The Kanata Kourier-Standard titled, “Speed Date with Kanata business ‘rockstars‘”. The article was announcing an upcoming local Business Improvement Association event, where people would have the opportunity to take part in round table talks and Q & A sessions with some of the area’s top “business talent”. The article then identified the eight (8) local entrepreneurs, CEOs and business leaders, or as the article put it—the event’s “Rockstars” — of which, 7 of the 8 leaders would be men.
So today’s reflection is a simple WTF?
Please consider contributing to the conversation on Gender Diversity on LinkedIn and let’s connect there too!
Interested to see how your Country is performing on women’s employment related issues? Please visit http://www.Catalyst.org here
“We must open the doors and we must see to it they remain open, so that others can pass through.” Rosemary Brown, Canadian politician and Activist
Posted Friday May 13th
Read the article by Gretchen Steidle on the Skoll website titled,Conscious Social Change: Investing in Mindfulness for Fierce Compassion and Social Impact and reflect on how you could practice the art of mindfulness to improve your leadership.
“Mindfulness can be defined as paying attention to whatever is happening in the present moment, with curiosity and without judgment. “Gretchen Steidle
Posted Friday May 6th
As leaders, we often feel the urge to fix or save a situation but is that really what others need? Read the article by Parker Palmer titled, The Gift of Presence, The Perils of Advice located at the On Being website. This weekend, take a moment to reflect on a time when you were totally present in the moment. What can you learn from that experience?
“…reflection is so critical; there can be no higher growth for individuals or for society without it. Reflection is the very process of human evolution itself.”
~ David Sawyer, director of Students for Appalachia at Berea College
Posted Friday April 27th
Curiosity may have killed the cat but what can it do for your own leadership?
Read about fostering curiosity through The Adventures of George and take a moment to reflect on your own natural curiosities and the curiosities in others. What could you be doing to enhance and strengthen them?
Posted March 11th
AN OPEN MIND, HEART AND SPIRIT
According to Frances Hesselbein, three self-openings are necessary to avoid the common traps and blind spots of most change efforts. Often based on rigid assumptions and agendas, many times leaders fail to see the opportunities to transform a systems using the power of interactions and relationships.Many otherwise well-intentioned change efforts fail because a leader was unable or unwilling to embrace this simple truth.
