Art of Leadership: Completed

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 May 2010 04:03 Written by Steve Friday, 24 October 2008 04:31

Have you ever put yourself outside your comfort zone only to have that zone of comfort expand underneath you?

Have you ever paid someone to make you do things that are very difficult, that you would never make yourself do, and come back the next day for another 10 hours of it?

Have you ever learned more about real leadership in 4 days than you thought possible?

Have you ever seen your image of yourself crystallize, and finally understand the real purpose of the work you’ve been doing for years?

If so, you may have just completed Rockwood’s Art of Leadership program, like I just did.

I’m still churning over the 30 some hours of intense training I just went through with amazing peers and truly masterful teachers. But what I’ve been able to process makes me think I’ll never really look at my role in the world the same way I did.

Thanks to Gideon who paid my way, Rockwood who made it all possible, 20 some fellow travelers who went along for the ride, and Roberto Vargas and Suzanne Hawkes–two amazing leaders and role models who pushed ad pulled us all for those 4 days!

Ron Howard: humiliating himself for the cause

Last Updated on Friday, 24 October 2008 09:37 Written by Steve Thursday, 23 October 2008 02:54

Love it!
Update: Apparently you can only see this here. Thanks Luke!

Art of Leadership: 2

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 May 2010 04:04 Written by Steve Tuesday, 21 October 2008 01:31

I came to Art of Leadership by way of ONE/Northwest, and I was thinking of it as a work activity. I was looking forward to taking some time to think about my leadership role within and without my org.

But during a session last night I was struck that when we talked about what was our purpose on this earth–what did we want to be remembered for–my kids leapt to mind. I see them as my reason and my legacy.

I was a bit surprised–not that my kids are important to me, but that the work that I do didn’t jump to the fore.

I awoke this morning and it came to me. My purpose is to help people find their power.

I think a big part of raising kids is about acheiving this goal:

When my kids reach adulthood, I want them to be strong, free-thinking, caring people.

I want to help them find their power. I want them to grow into what they can be.

And this resonates with my work as well. So much of what I do is about trying to share my knowledge so that others may use that in finding their own power. A nonprofit staffer can have massive impact on the world, and that impact can be multiplied if I can show them what I know about strategies, databases and the web.

It’s more about teaching than about technology. See the power you have? Now what are you going to do with it?