Obama (part 2)
Read moreLet’s continue a bit more on what is interesting about Obama and the way he has processed his life events. His unusual life journey – one that others might consider a true psychological hardship – led him to appreciate diversity and to have a more acute understanding of others. It also left him with a great curiosity and desire to
Obama (part 1)
Read moreBarack Obama had what many would consider a trying and problematic beginning of life. Raised mostly by his grandparents, he moved often, changing regions and countries several times. In addition, he lived many of these early years in extreme poverty. In his speeches, Obama talks often of these difficult times and the marks they left on him. The son of
Gandhi had an extraordinary ability to process his life experience
Read moreAs we saw in the previous entry, a major turning point in Gandhi’s life occurred when, as a young lawyer in South Africa, he was removed from a first class train seat because of the color of his skin. While one can certainly not deny the importance of this turning point event in Gandhi’s life, I would argue that it
We are wrong to think that leaders have extraordinary past experiences
Read moreAs I have traveled throughout the world for a number of years, I have been struck by the prevalence of this particular myth. In my coaching or teaching, I have often encountered the entrenched opinion that there is something extraordinary or “special” in the life experience of people who emerge as leaders. In other words, people such
It’s about how we process the events of our lives
Read moreAs part of my ongoing reflection on the CNN Heroes program I would like to discuss a specific point that struck me. At one point in the CNN Heroes show, host Anderson Cooper remarked: “We’ve seen tonight how a personal crisis can transform an ordinary individual into a hero.” While my goal here is not to take issue with this
Presentation in Geneva on “the art of storytelling”
Read moreA month ago, at the Business Forum at Palexpo in Geneva, I gave a conference on leadership and storytelling, followed by a book signing. The event was organized by Rezonance, a remarkable networking organization, in cooperation with the Fédération des Entreprises Romandes. Recently, I received this drawing from the artist Elizabeth Auzan, who makes these types of sketches “on the