Part 3 Revisiting Leadership Challenge by Posner and Kouzes

Inspiration comes from communication. Clear transparent and two-way communication allows for an  idea, an intention, an expression to swell into a vision. For the preferred future to become accepted across a team, a family a society it needs to be understood and embraced. It needs to be adaptable and flexible (as all visions do) in a constantly changing environment.

This kind of leadership practice is absent across most political jurisdictions. We never really know where, how or why political candidates see tomorrow. A leader could succinctly respond to the question ” how will the world be different in four years?” – they may not be right but that doesn’t reduce the power of expressing a compelling vision that we can all work towards.

The absence of shared vision often leads us to “the best of the worst’ decisions. Recent elections have demonstrated that our current ‘leadership’ didn’t understand that vagueness and single-mindedness were no longer qualities we respected.

If you dare to have a vision for tomorrow. Share it, listen to feedback, and share it with more folks and listen again. Create an environment where the vision can flourish and then be open to its power. Be open to surprise.

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When asked “what time is it?” what if you answered “now”? Not likely the expected response but certainly more interesting than 11:17. Not immediately helpful for someone on a schedule but certainly more inspiring. Not as easy to make small talk or a graceful exit with but certainly more likely to open a new conversation.

I am uncomfortable in now. For many of us our tendency is to live through time so we have difficulty just being in the present. I marvel at those who tend to live in time. Even though they are often late when they arrive they are completely present in the moment with you.

Now can be a measure of the present; at the present time or moment. Now can be a starting point; without further delay; immediately; at once. Now can be precise;at this time or juncture in some period under consideration. It can be used to describe the current circumstances and convey a new understanding.

Three letters, one word, lots of power. How are you thinking about now? What are you thinking about now? Are you ready, now? Now is the time. Now I understand.

Make Today Remarkable by trying out now,

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Have you entered a room and felt uneasy about your ‘right’ to be there? Have you visited a city and felt like an unwanted alien? Have you called a friend and wondered about the reception you received? Is it about you or the others involved? I tend towards taking everything personally so I often feel like I have rubbed someone the wrong way (unintentionally because I often rub intentionally) and am concerned about what faux pas I made.

I woke up today thinking about how I come across. Am I welcoming? Does my countenance or manner suggest that I am not elated by your visit? Do I make an effort to invite the stranger into the conversation? Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes. could my unease in certain situations be lessened if I was more gregariously welcoming in others?

Can I become warmer to guests if I appreciate those around me more, who have the gift of hospitality? Is this like everything I ponder; it takes work, practice and more work? I know people who seem to naturally exude pleasure in the arrival of guests and relish the opportunity to include strangers. Did they work at it or are they innately different in their congeniality? Can I become more cordial? Should I? I welcome your comments.

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