LOGBOOK
The world has had its eyes on the Chilean miners rescue. Yesterday the last of the 33 trapped miners was lifted to safety after almost ten weeks of captivity 2,000 feet underground. Can you imagine? Can you imagine what it took to endure 70 days in a mine and re-enter life with a smile and hope? I am looking forward to the stories that will be emerging - stories of courage and despair, hope and belifef, community and leadership, and pervseverance. I am not so naive as to step over the poitical wrangling, limelight hogging, and other ugly things that showed up - but am choosing to ignore those elements for this moment of triumph. I wonder, could I have persevered? What would that have looked like? I know myself to be a bit of a 'pit-bull' when focused on a task, problem, creation. Sometimes I notice that as side-ways self criticism - but now will take good care of that part of my leadership nature as it probably would have served me well!
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RESUPPLY
Did you know?
TEDxDIRIGO IS MAINE'S OFFICIAL TEDx CONFERENCE.
The first TEDx event took place in Maine on 10-10-10 and we missed it!! In the next weeks podcasts and videos of the speakers will be uploaded to the website. Stay tuned.
From the website: In the same spirit of the state motto, our event leads the way with ideas worth spreading from Maine's brightest innovators and change-makers.
While the event itself is our focus, we see the true benefit evolving outside of the venue, sparking connections among idea shapers and resources. We hope this inaugural event will be a catalyst for positive change in the state, where new ideas are funded and supported for the greater good of all.
What is TedX?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxDirgo, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxDirigo event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized. For more information on the TEDx program, visit the TEDx website here.
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Scouting?
For more information
about our services,
to engage in a discussion about your assessment results, to talk with us about professional development opportunities and/or to schedule your free 30-minute, sample, coaching-session,
click here to email us.
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 Reading the waters
How do you define leadership on a day-to-day basis? Does your definition change when facing monumental challenges? Who among us has not marveled at the ability of the Chilean miners to organize themselves into a group that survived and had the forethought to agree that any financial gain would benefit the entire group? What about the endurance of the families dealing with the unknown as well as the intrusion of the media? What about the hope that Chilean President Sebastian Pinera offered throughout the ordeal? What about the international, national, and local expertise, all of which made the successful survival and rescue possible? Many principles of leadership become more essential under pressure. Deborah Meehan, Director of University College at Rockland, shared her wisdom with us prior to the Chilean miner's rescue. Her words take on an added gravity with this event as the context. Leadership, in addition to all the right stuff about communication and motivation and clear articulation of goals and expectations, is perhaps most about recognizing that one person can never do it all. Therefore, the key to great leadership is to attract and retain all the best minds and energy around you so you can pull it off.
Having "all the best minds and energy around you so you can pull it off" is one of the leadership lessons we take away. This event galvanized the necessary expertise. No matter what scale we are asked to rise to as leaders, we don't have to be the only one in the boat, the only one reading the waters to determine where safe passage lies. We can call in the expertise and experience we need. With challenging times, we see how tired some of our leaders are; how much they are carrying. Perseverance is not about stubbornly holding on or going it alone. It is about holding out the vision and having others with both experience and expertise stand with you. Together we persevere. Together we hold the vision.
Let us know how you define leadership and we will post your responses in our next newsletter.
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Steering the Course
STARTING SOON!! Facilitated peer consultation groups for Executive Directors of nonprofits are beginning in Portland (November 16), Bangor (October 28), the Mid-coast (November 3), and any other area where there are eight leaders enrolled.
Contact us. We would be happy to schedule a conversation to see if this is a good fit for you.
- COST: $750 tuition ($150 deposit holds your place);
- Recommend a colleague who registers and receive a 10% discount ($675)
Groups for 2010 will be limited to 8 participants. Reserve your place today!
Here is what executive directors who have taken part in a Paddling group have to say: - There is no reason to assume that you are alone in your position. I gained an awareness of the similar challenges facing all executive directors, even more experienced directors.
- Being involved in a Paddling group is equal to several years worth of [experience in] an ED's life.
- I always left the sessions "energized" despite a long work day.
- I appreciated the confidential environment [where it] felt safe to share.
Want to know who has participated? Go to our website to see the list of organizations that have supported their executive director's participation.
Want to ask people who have taken part in a Paddling group about their experience? Contact
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Guidebook
Perseverance by Margaret J. WheatleyFrom Wheatley's website:
In this inspiring and beautifully illustrated book, best-selling author Margaret Wheatley offers guidance to people everywhere for how to persevere through challenges in their personal lives, with their families, at their workplaces, in their communities, and in their efforts to make a better world.
Perseverance is a day-by-day decision not to give up. Wheatley does not offer the usual feel-good, rah-rah messages. Instead, she focuses on the situations, feelings, and challenges that can, over time, cause us to lose heart or lose our way. When we feel lost, overwhelmed, betrayed or exhausted, we need to know we have a choice for how we respond. And we have to nurture the rewarding times, when we experience the joy of working together on something hard but worthwhile, when we realize we've made a small difference.
In a series of short and compassionate essays, Wheatley names a behavior or dynamic-such as fearlessness, guilt, joy, jealousy-that supports or impedes our efforts to persevere. She puts each in a broader human or timeless perspective, offering ways to either live with or transcend each one.
These essays are self-contained-you can thumb through the book and find what attracts you or what you need in the moment. There deliberately are no examples of other people or their experiences. You are the example-your personal experiences are the basis for change.
In addition to Wheatley's graceful essays, there are poems and quotations drawn from traditions and cultures around the world and throughout history. The book is deeply grounded spiritually, accessing human experience and wisdom from many sources. This inclusiveness supports the essential message-human beings throughout time have persevered. We're just the most recent ones to face these challenges, and we too can persevere, on behalf of the people, causes and places we love.
Subscribe to the free 8-week newsletter - For Pesevering People
Watch Wheatley give an introduction to the book. Listen to a radio interview: How to persevere through this time of uncertainty, difficulty and occasional insanity. If you seek to be one who perseveres, if you hope that your work and life contribute to making things better, not worse, for the people, issues and places you love, then this show is for you.
Do you have a book to recommend? Tell us.
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Navigation Tool
Understanding ourselves, our strengths, and how we act provide valuable insights into our leadership. Many different types of assessment tools are available - and each provides a perspective worth exploring.
The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) is a best-selling and trusted leadership tool. Developed by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, the third edition of this instrument approaches leadership as a measurable, learnable, and teachable set of behaviors. This 360-degree leadership assessment tool helps individuals and organizations measure their leadership competencies, while guiding them through the process of applying Kouzes and Posner's acclaimed Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership Model to real-life organizational challenges.
The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership:
Model the Way
Inspire a Shared Vision
Challenge the Process
Enable Others to Act
Encourage the Heart
The LPI is a questionnaire with thirty behavioral statements-six for each of The Five Practices-that takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Leaders complete the LPI-Self, rating themselves on the frequency with which they think they engage in each of the thirty behaviors. Five to ten other people-typically selected by the leaders-complete the LPI-Observer questionnaire, rating the leaders on the frequency with which they think they engage in each behavior. Respondents can indicate their relationship to the leader-manager, co-worker or peer, direct report, or other observer-but, with the exception of the leader's manager, all the observers' feedback is anonymous.
The LPI can be completed online, or it can be completed in a paper-and-pencil version. Whether taken in a hard or soft format, the results are scored electronically and the system prints out a report that summarizes the results.
This fall participants in the Paddling the Rapids facilitated peer consultation groups will be using this assessment. We are looking forward to the insights it provides.
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Adjust Readjust: The Geography of Balance
WEBINAR - Tuesday, November 30th - 4-5:30 PM
Cost: $15
Summer gave us an opportunity to create some space in our lives. We gave ourselves permission to do self-care that was renewing. Have you been wondering how maintain that focus and to create more balance in your life as you navigate the ever busy schedule of your work-life? If the answer is 'yes', join your colleagues for this 90-minute webinar designed to guide you through a process to do just that! Carol Carriuolo and Corda Kinzie will facilitate this lively and valuable session. You will leave with tools, a personal goal, and several strategies for moving toward your preferred future.
Note: Instructions for logging in for the webinar will be provided in your registration confirmation.
Workshop fee: $15 donation to Journeys for Women, an initiative of the Maine Support Network.
To register download the PDF registration form or go to the website of Syntiro (the hosting organization).
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