Thinking Out Loud

I’ll be at Mouth Desert Island High School in Maine tomorrow giving a workshop to the faculty (about 70 educators).  We’ll be focusing on communication styles and conflict resolution to support their restorative practices initiative.  This is a very forward thinking school, looking beyond the traditional model of discipline, as they focus on building community, individual responsibility, and accountability.  I have a long history of working with this organization and admire their high standards and humanistic approach to education.

Leaders and teams are constantly challenged by clients, customers, and themselves to think from several different angles:

• Strategic
• Creative
• Collaborative
• Innovative
• Critical
• Entrepreneurial
• Design

Go to the dictionary, Google, or the gurus who stand as prime examples illustrating the desired thinking and you’ll likely be inspired to think differently—or think you should be. But what does it all mean? Are there some common denominators? Read More

Many (most?) of the books and articles written about how to be a good leader concentrate on some aspect of vulnerability — what it is and what it isn’t. Much of it encourages us to simply be more open with those we work with, to trust and share power. Here I want to talk about our humanity, not pretending that because we have attained a leadership position we have it all figured out: that we have all the answers and all the confidence. The truth is, we do not check our humanity at the door when we assume a position of leadership.  Read More

This the sixth year of Leadership Hancock County (http://leadhancock.org/) which begins on January 19th.  Deb Burwell and I have been the two instructors from the beginning.  We’ve developed a strong curriculum rooted in best practices, focusing on communication, decision-making, collaboration, conflict resolution, and networking.  Our host sites offer us opportunities to learn about different sectors of the economy, their vision and leadership challenges.  We have six diverse sites this winter and spring, and our participants cover a wide range of for-profit and non-profit organizations.

I’m truly looking forward to another great year!