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Reflecting on boredom
authenticity, leadership, Leadership in the news, Leading by autobiography, Storytelling
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A funny thing happened to me this week on a flight from Detroit to Amsterdam. We were all set to go, the cabin door had been closed, all electronic devices were turned off for takeoff, and then the captain announced a “small technical delay” of 15-20 minutes. Perhaps because of considerable prior experience with such events, I tend to get a bit concerned that one delay might lead to another, and that each one will take a bit more time than anticipated. In this particular case, our 30 minute wait for the technical repair engendered the need to de-ice the aircraft a second time. We waited for the de-icing … Continue reading
Reflecting on reflection, and creativity
These past 10 days, I have been on the road in Miami and Boston, a bit too busy to write a blog, but I wanted to post something short nonetheless. In fact, I have been thinking a lot recently about two of my favorite topics: creativity and reflection. And, I am more and more convinced that the two are connected. When I read about the most creative, inventive and productive people throughout history, I note an interesting phenomenon: Many of them have unique and unusual routines or practices, but they all seem to need significant blocks of undistracted, reflective time. Here are some examples: Inventor Thomas Edison used to sit in … Continue reading
The pope’s remarkable stories of inclusion continue, as he takes the church to the streets
One of the themes of my coaching of leaders and in my seminars for the past 15 years has been the importance of telling stories of collective identity. These are the “stories of us” that define our group, by explaining who we are, what we stand for, how we see the future, and what we can accomplish together. A shared narrative can be a powerful force that clarifies a group’s culture, inspiring members by providing a sense of meaning and direction. Beyond inspiration, though, these stories of who we are and where we are going have the most impact when they become veritable stories of co-creation. In my best … Continue reading
John F. Kennedy and stories of identity
John's reflections, Leadership in the news, Leading by autobiography, Marketing and branding
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In November, I did a quick stop-over in the US on my way back to Amsterdam from Argentina. Though I stayed less than a day in North America, the timing of my visit made it a fascinating one. When I landed in Atlanta, I realized that it was on the day that marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As I spent much of the 12-hour layover in airline lounges, or simply wandering through the airport, I read and watched numerous stories about this man, his presidency, and his untimely death. It all caused me to reflect on why Kennedy seemed such an important figure … Continue reading
