LOGBOOK
I inherited extensive perennial gardens before I was a gardener. While they were amazingly beautiful, I overwhelmed myself with their care. Out of desperation I organized an annual "weed and feed" for my June birthday. My gardening friends transformed the gardens in a few hours. Later I decided to develop my own relationship with the gardens, letting many go wild. Happily, this is the first year that I am truly engaged with the gardens and enjoying them daily.
The issues facing leaders can be overwhelming whether we are new to our positions or have occupied them for years. Our ethic at Paddling the Rapids is that leaders don't have to go it alone. Finding others to traverse the rapids with us is essential to becoming potent leaders. Paddling the Rapids is dedicated to creating circles of leaders who can support each other. How do you move through feeling overwhelmed? Do you have people at your back when you need them? We are happy to explore these questions with you.
Deb
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RESUPPLY
What Makes Us Come Alive?
People don't just do things for money. At least that's what Daniel Pink says. "We do things because they're interesting, because they're engaging, because they're the right things to do, because they contribute to the world," Pink elaborates. In a world that operates on punishments and rewards, writers Clay Shirky and Daniel Pink are paving a new path. Both grew up in Midwest university towns in the 1970s, where they spent formative years watching television after school and at night. Both later went to Yale (a BA in painting for Shirky, a law degree for Pink). And both eventually abandoned their chosen fields, and are published authors and innovative thinkers on topics of technology, business, and society. Wired Magazine sat the two visionaries down for a conversation about motivation, television, and why people edit wiki articles in their free time.
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Scouting?
For more information,
to engage in a discussion about your professional development needs, and/or to schedule a free 30-minute, sample, coaching-session,
click here email us.
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 Reading the waters
For language lovers, the prose of tilling the soil is filled with intriguing concepts. "Tilth" refers to the quality of the top soil in which plants grow. Clay soils are inherently very fertile, but their structural properties make it hard for plants to grow in them. Adding organic matter improves their structural properties producing extremely fertile soil (thanks to Rick Kersbergen from UMaine Cooperative Extension, Waldo County for this explanation). As leaders we need good soil to grow in, but we are often tending to so many projects, that we exhaust ourselves. How can we unlock our brilliance and creativity? What organic material do we need to build not only our own soil, but the soil in which to grow new leaders? Maine leaders are turning over due to age. We need a new crop of leaders. How can we cultivate auspicious conditions and ample opportunities for leadership to germinate and grow? Can we commit to inviting new leaders into our mission and vision? "Friable" is another soil term that portends good soil structure. When you take a hand full of soil and squeeze it together, friable soil will gently hold together and then disperse when thrown on the ground. This is one way to know the soil is workable. How can we determine whether or not our organizational and community cultures are friable and can grow and sustain capable leaders? Watch who steps up to lead. What happens to that person? Do they have others supporting them? Do they have a way to learn, grow and experiment? What is our role as leaders in this cycle of soil building and intentionally supporting new leaders? |
Steering the Course
We know that meeting with colleagues has many benefits: increasing vitality, breaking isolation, exchanging resources, building leadership muscle, defining values, thinking strategically, and more. This is why leaders join Paddling the Rapids leadership groups.
Curious? Join us on a conference call to learn more about Paddling the Rapids groups, ask your questions, and meet other leaders. Invite others who may be interested by forwarding this newsletter. This is a convenient way to find out how Paddling the Rapids can serve your leadership development.
New groups will be starting in the fall of 2010 in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston/Auburn/Augusta, Midcoast, Seacoast New Hampshire, and any other area where there are nine leaders wanting a group.
To find out more participate in a conference call. The calls now scheduled are:
- Thursday, June 10th, 8:30-9:15 AM
- Wednesday, June 23rd, 8:30-9:15 AM
- Thursday, July 8th, 12:15-1:00 PM
- Monday, July 19th, 3:30-4:15 PM
Email us to reserve a line at info@paddlingtherapids.com
Dial-in and join the call: 1-213-289-0500 (Los Angeles), use code 271884
"Paddling creates a space for me to focus on "me"; to learn from other ED's; understand my own motivations better; and know that I have a place to share my successes and 'challenges' and feel supported and safe while doing so. It's like going home!" Liz Herold, Executive Director, The Pines
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Guidebook
Summer can be a time for indulging in a book not related to spreadsheets, fund-raising, leadership, or nonprofit management. We invite you to let us know what is on your summer reading list. We will post your book titles and comments in our newsletter.
Here are some of the titles we have been hearing about:
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Appassionata by Eva Hoffman
- Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin
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The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton
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The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
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Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich
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The Help by Kathryn Stockett
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The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee
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Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
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Open House by Elizabeth Berg
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The Women by T.C. Boyle
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Anthropology of an American Girl by Hilary Thayer Hamann
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Slow Love by Dominique Browning
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A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan Unfinished
- Hellhound on His Trail by Hampton Side
- Business by Lee Kravitz
- Little Bee:A Novel by Chris Cleave
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Navigation Tool
Did you know that Deb and Carol have a thriving consulting business in addition to co-facilitating Paddling groups? Here is what we offer: - strategic planning
- leadership coaching
- meeting facilitation
- planning
- consultations
- board development
- team development
- workshop design and delivery
- retreat planning and facilitation
- there's more - ask us.......
You can find out more by going to our website and by checking out our indivudal LinkedIn pages (Carol  and Deb ) . Contact us to start a conversation about how we might serve you, your board and organization, or community.
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Upcoming Events
June 15 - 19 / The Eleanor Days / Isle Au Haut
June 29 / Bangor / 5:30 - 7:00PM / Paddling Alumni gathering
Fall 2010 / new round of Paddling the Rapids sessions for nonprofit leaders
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