Growing up my father used the expression “twerp” to describe any leader not meeting his high standards for character. As a man with a strong moral compass and a rock-solid ethical foundation who is held in high regard by his family, friends, students, and colleagues, any leader decried as a twerp by my father earned the label.
Yes, that’s a bit judgmental. And, yes, there is wisdom in making such assessments of leaders (sooner, rather than later). After all, it would appear that the world is not yet filled with saints who step into leadership roles. While I’ve been blessed to have worked with some wonderful leaders for over 30 years, I can also report that I’ve experienced my fair share of encounters with twerps, jerks, and other petty tyrants. And, need I comment on similar “characters” we observe on the modern politic stage at the local, regional, national, and global level? It does seem that they receive the lion’s share of media attention.
This post is for conscious leaders. Conscious leaders are present, open, and flexible. They take full responsibility for their world, and refrain from shaming and blaming others. Conscious leaders commit to a culture of candor where there is no place for gossip. They live in appreciation–seeing all people and circumstances as allies, even when things don’t seem to be going their way. Conscious leaders tap into their genius and create a life full of play.
That can be a tall order. My own inclination as a leader is to follow the path of the “Bodhisattva” or one who is motivated by great compassion and courage to serve others. I recognize that the Bodhisattva path is not for everyone, and I frequently divert from the path. One thing I’ve found helpful is to be part of a community (a tribe, really) of leaders who share similar commitments. Another tool that helps is staying curious. Curious about myself, curious about other people, and curious about the events of my world as then unfold around me. I’ll admit that it can be challenging to stay curious when much of the information we receive is very judgmental–one way or the other. That is why I’ve mostly tuned media out these days–a practice which I also recommend to you.
Regarding community, I had the privilege of facilitating a group of conscious education leaders recently. One of the exercises they engaged in was to intentionally design their alliances for the upcoming school year. Whether or not you are in education, August is always a good time to reconnect with colleagues to design how you want to be with one another for the remainder of the calendar year. Here are a few inquiries to guide your discussion:
- What is needed for us to fully show up, own our results, and empower others?
- What behaviors on the team shut us down, and what agreements do we want to want to make with each other to shift that?
- What assumptions are we making?
- Can we be candid with each other, sharing how we see circumstances and how others on the team are impacting us?
- How do we play the game of work so that each of us wins individually, we succeed as a team, and the organization thrives?
We also spent time with this group having them reflect upon a time in their professional lives when they felt fully engaged. A time when they jumped out of bed eager to start the day and felt fully satisfied in the evening after a long day of work. A time when the hours flew by with work that seemed effortless. This is an exercise you can do on your own, and as you reflect upon your experience, jot down some notes and explore where you might want to make some changes at work.
Being part of a supportive community of leaders with shared values and commitments can make a huge difference. I’m part of one that’s been meeting for many years. If you’re interested in joining, email me Here!
David Langiulli is an executive coach and trainer who helps leaders flourish and thrive.