Where Do We Go From Here

I let a milestone slip by quietly a month or so ago. It was the tenth anniversary of this blog (900 posts strong.) I know, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. The world has gone absolutely crazy...pandemics have become politicized...and the United States is sadly divided to extremes.

Back to that milestone. I decided to step back from writing for a while. My last two posts about Black Lives Matter and Seeing Color seemed a fitting set of messages that represent how I feel. It didn't seem right to jump back into "the 3 best actions to take to be the leader of the year" type of posts.

Something felt different, and quite honestly I didn't want to say anything more, about any topic, at the time.

Now Things are Different

Historic change has since occurred. The impact on employers, regardless of your political leanings, will be dramatic at the very least. And, the need for leadership that does not include fake news, hoaxes, or outright lies is more important than ever.

Will we get that type of leadership from Washington? I highly doubt it. It's rarely been there before, and the last few years have shown that it has all but evaporated.

So, where do we go from here?

There are of course, several options to fill the massive leadership void. 

Families are a very important part of our communities, and hopefully create a safe place to share our fears, opinions, and outlook going forward.

Our faith also plays a massively important role, for those that have a faith perspective. For me, it brings a level of awareness, teaching, support, guidance, a
strong community, and bigger picture view that rises above the politicization of society.

A third group, and one I feel needs to play an ever more critical role is that of the employer. Providing information, sharing resources and creating opportunities for employees to have real dialogue, and ensure that open lines of communication are well utilized and understood by everyone is more important than ever before.

How About You

It's been ten years since I started my blogging journey. Candidly, if we ever needed leadership that held itself accountable, it is right now. Let's move forward with a fresh spirit of opportunity, excitement about the future, and support for one another. We're all going to need it, right?

I'd love to hear from you.

No excuses.

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Using the Word

I don’t hear many leaders use it. Somehow it invokes the fear of a radical, self-serving third party. Or it gives the impression that the power so many have worked hard to achieve will be eroded. Whatever the reason, I think it’s a word that should be infused into the contemporary leader’s lexicon.

Words Matter

As I think about how the workforce is changing so rapidly with the use of technology, to generational views, to a completely mobile society it strikes me that expectations are changing faster than we might like. Guess what? Others expectations are not up to us. We need to stop trying to control for these things.

What we do have control of is our power. We’re the “older” ones in the workplace. We have the authority to do so many things (hire, fire, set strategy, allocate resources, etc.) If we use our power to introduce a new way of thinking…literally using new words…we can change the culture of our organizations. 

Don’t believe that one word can make a big difference? Try dropping the f-bomb in every meeting you’re in this week.

How About You

Candidly power is only useful if it is used productively. Sure, you can choose to be an ego-maniac power monger, but you’ll look like a fool and your colleagues and employees will mock you behind your back as they resign in waves.

Instead of looking foolish, try stepping out from the norm and infuse this word into your corporate culture:

Justice.

You might be surprised if you adopted ‘justice' as a core value in your company. The quality of talent you attract and retain might surprise you too.

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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For Dad...Guns, Race and Inspiration

My recent post on role models  highlighted one of my "larger than life" heroes, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  I made only a slight reference to the person who introduced me to Dietrich, and who essentially, is the one that moved me down my professional path.


I have dozens of examples as to why I was so influenced by this person.  Looking back now, I am not surprised that I have been in leadership roles beginning at a "young" age in both my personal and professional lives.  Two brief examples will illustrate his amazing impact.


GET THAT GUN OUT OF MY FACE


Growing up as a boy in Scranton, Pennsylvania during the early 1970s was a turbulent time.  The radical 1960s had come to a close, Vietnam was out of control, and racial injustice was alive and well.  Always an advocate for those in need, he was approached by a man who was desperately searching for housing.  This man had found an apartment, but the landlord was apparently unwilling to rent to him.  The landlord was white, and the man in need was black.

Undeterred, my mentor went with the man to confront the landlord.  When the two of them arrived and knocked on the landlord's door, and clarified who they were and why there were there, a threat with a hand gun was the response.

Now most folks would accept that perhaps it was time to leave, but not in this case.  Viewing this as an opportunity to move social justice forward, my mentor  began a dialogue with the landlord.  The threat of violence dissipated, and a breakthrough of sorts was achieved.  The black man had his apartment.

OUR COMMUNITY IS COMING APART

Two decades later my mentor was working in a new community that saw racial tensions at their highest level in years.  Every weekend was a recipe for disaster as clashes between the black community and police became all too commonplace.  Following a particularly dangerous weekend, it was time for action.

He called for a series of retreats between the two sides.  Facilitated at a beautiful lodge on a lake thirty minutes outside the city, he helped the two parties make incredible progress.  The volcano that was ready to erupt quieted once more, and both sides came away with a new found respect and understanding for each other.  The result?  My mentor received the New York State Bar Association's Humanitarian of the Year Award for his leadership.

THANK YOU

Mentors create not only an example, but energy as well.  Their impact can move us in such a profound way that you have no choice but to learn from them.  For me, I would simply like to thank my mentor for being such a source of inspiration and driving force in my life.

Thank you Dad.

No Excuses.