One last opportunity to post and share

If you have FINAL thoughts (or ideas about earlier topics), please post them here... Few of us are likely to go back to the earlier headings.

Addititionall, here are a few broad questions that you might like to consider-- and even share your (brief) thoughts on one or more of them. If you have indicated that you wanted a grade, but have not posted very often, this would be a good place to share a final thought. Have fun.

1. What do you see as your greatest block to bringing out your creativity? How can you move beyond that block? What commitment are you willing to make to yourself? What support will you need?

2. Take a few minutes to imagine what your work environment would be like IF all of your associates were practicing the same Live-Withs that you have been pursuing. Describe what this work place might be like and how you would feel about it.

3. What is a life goal that you will feel provide supreme satisfaction and joy? Has this course helped you better define your goals and values? Has this course provided insights regarding how you might go about achieving your goal(s)?

4. We have discussed the interplay of leadership, climate/culture and people as it impacts an organization’s ability to implement change. How do you see the challenge of managing and balancing these three items in your own situation?

5. Write your own question and then your answer to it.

Week #9- Comments on (1) Strength I See in You; (2) Be Ordinary Live-With; and (3) Mt Everest- Leadership Failures

Especially because we were running out of time, it would be great to get your comments and "learnings" from the Strength I See in You exercise. We can review these comments at the start of the last class.

Please post your comments about the work for our last class--
a) experiences with the Be Ordinary Live-With. Some find the word "ordinary" hard to deal with; we know we are all unique, one-of-a-kind and somewhat special... If this is the case, substitute the word "authentic"-- as in being true to yourself and valuing yourself forwho you are. Please share.

b) reactions to the Mt Everest case. Within our leadership discussions, we have talked about willingness to take risk and make mistakes. This case goes farther into disastrous results... However, we can learn from it and relate some of the "errors" to what we have covered. What do you think?

Week #8-- Balance, Gender Tendencies, Leading Change

This week and next, please share your experiences with balance-- what it means to you and how you try to achieve it. "Apply" the Live-With and record your successes as well as what did not help.

Also how are the live-withs helping you through the holiday? Any insights about how they have helped you with difficult relationships?

We felt that confronting gender differences was important. The key is seeking and bringing out your authentic self. Thoughts?

Leading Change-- We will start next class with more on this topic. If change is the only constant, then leading change becomes a major part of every leader's job. We have covered a number of frameworks regarding change-- and there are plenty of others around...

What has been your experience with either leading change or "being part" of a major change or turnaround effort. What did you experience? How did you cope to get through it?

Do you have thoughts about Nissan and Carlos Ghosn?

Have a great week and holiday...

Week #7: See With Your Heart; Whole Foods and Mackey's leadership

Very sorry that I have been late in opening this topic....

An intersting quote:
"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with
the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible
to the eye." Antoine de Saint-Exupery

What a lovely week this is - a week of seeing with your heart, which allows you to see what is invisible to the eye.

It is only when you move past seeing with just the eyes and mind that you can really see another human being at all, and can begin to be in true relationship, whether it is with another or it is with your Self.

Make sure to practice this live-with both internally and externally. Once you begin to open your heart to yourself, and your Self, you will know your deepest capacity for love and compassion.

On a very practical note, use your precise observation to see what shifts at home and at work when you see with your heart. What changes in the dynamic of your relationships? How is the 'other', whom you are seeing with your heart, changed? How does is your creativity, and the creativity that comes from your relationship, changed? Reciprocity???

We discussed an interesting and successful company built by John Mackey. Do you have any reaction to what he did and especially how it might be useful for you in your organization.

See you on the 14th.

Week #6-- Just Do It! Facing Fears and Company Culture

You now have two new tools in your tool bag:

1) The Three Stressors: categorize for clarity and forward action.

2) Face your fear: speak it out loud, then re-frame it as a Hero's Journey. What would breakthrough on the journey look like? What is the vision you see ahead? What will it take to Leap?

Try using these two tools and following your live-with, JUST DO IT!, this week in order to take action on your course challenge. How can you get enough clarity, so that you can take appropriate action on your challenge and any other challenges you might be facing?

Regarding company culture and WestJet, please post any ideas that you have.

The Ray chapter introduces the Relationship Challenge. You can comment on this if you wish.

Also, if you are not familiar with Whole Foods, try to visit one... and read the case

Have a great week,
Hal & Julie

Week #5-- Do Only What You Love; Love What You Do and Leading Innovation (IDEO)

We hope you are having fun with this Live-With and will post your experiences below. Please also share your thoughts about matching how you spend your time with your values, goals and what you love to do. Go for progress, not perfection... Remember the “Love-to-Do Commitment” you have made. How is it progressing?

We covered a lot of material about IDEO and we encourage you to share any reactions or questions that were stimulated. Based on the video and the discussion, you can share some ideas and comments about this company? What are some of the concepts that might be useful for YOU in your own organization?

Have a great week.

Week #4-- Ask Dumb Questions and Leadership Concepts

Please share your experiences as you work with dumb or powerful questions.

Let us know about your feelings as you frame the questions-- for example, what is the role of the VOJ? How about the reaction? Did you get your answer and maybe more?

You can even try questions with strangers-- so long as you genuinely want to know the answer. Many of us REALLY like to share of knowledge if someone asks and is interested...

What have you found?

LEADERSHIP--
We covered a lot of material about leadership and we encourage you to share any reactions or questions that were stimulated.

Any thoughts and observations about:
++ Management Mindsets
++ Emotional Intelligence
++ Aesthetic Intelligence
++ Intergrative Thinking

Which of the ideas seem like they will be useful for you now and in the future?