society of graduates annual general meeting 2004 leaders today: finding the good “holdin’...
TRANSCRIPT
SOCIETY OF GRADUATESANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
2004
LEADERS TODAY: FINDING THE GOOD “HOLDIN’ GROUND”
06 October 2004
The rules break like a thermometer …Quicksilver spills across charted systems.We’re out in a country that has no language,
no lawsChasing the raven and the wren
through gorges unexplored since dawn.
Whatever we do together is pure invention.The maps they gave us were out of date
by years. Adrienne Rich, Twenty-one Love
Poems
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
Context: Change in Society Role of Leaders in Times of
Change Readiness to Respond Conversation
CHANGES IN SOCIETY
Demographic shifts Financial challenges Impact of technology Increasing urbanization A changing rural Canada Public expectations Credibility of leaders
EMERGING AWARENESS Importance of culture Value/beauty of diversity Recognition of disabilities Role of women Reality of violence Reality of poverty Understanding of environment Link of social/economic
development
CHANGES IN ORGANIZATIONS
Customer focus Mission driven/values based Quality focused Partnerships/alliances Participative decision-making Sense of accountability Innovation/learning
environments Shared vision
EMERGING UNDERSTANDING OF
HEALTH Health is a state of complete
physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being; it is a resource for everyday living.
Health persons families communities populations earth
CHANGES IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Federal/provincial interaction Balance:
community/home/institution Involvement of clients in decisions Coordination/integration Governance restructuring Alternate caregivers Focus on research, outcomes Accountability/transparency Ethical decision-making Levels of stress
The things we fear most in organizations-fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances- need not be signs of an impending disorder that will destroy us. Instead, fluctuations are the primary source of creativity.
Margaret Wheatley, Leadership and the New
Science
RESPONSE IN TIMES OF CHANGE
Health, wholeness Inclusion, connectedness Interdependence,
integration
ROLES OF LEADERS Visionary – musician, artist, poet Prophet – disturber of the peace Decision-maker – manager, director Inspirer – spirit creator, calling forth
the good, telling the story Facilitator – one who draws forth the
energy, hopes, actions of the group Implementer – one who does the
difficult deeds Evaluator – one who measures,
celebrates wins, learns from losses
KEY ELEMENTS
Creating the environment Opening doors Respecting the tradition Showing ethical
leadership Imaging soul in your
organization
CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT
Focus on quality and outcomes
Participative decision-making Linkages Citizen involvement Healthy communities
OPENING DOORS
The core of leadership must be the act of making conversation real. The conversations of captaincy and leadership are the conversations that forge real relationships between the inside of a human being and their outer world, or between an organization and the world it serves.
David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity
RESPECTING THE TRADITION
Image of the dory Strengths of the past
ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
Include ethical issues on agendas
Establish a climate in which ethical issues can be raised and considered
NEED FOR COURAGE AND COMMITMENT
Uncertainty about the direction Long-term nature of the
endeavour Broad spectrum of participants Spectrum of emotional response Intensity of process Incredibly high expectations Costs of change
READINESS TO RESPOND
Awareness of complexity Skills development Strengths of tradition Emotional preparedness Reflection Ceremonies and celebration Confidence and conviction
How can we dare Wisdom in the mosaic of our realities?
Inès Maria dell’ Eucaristia, fdls
SYMBOLS
Crystal Inukshuk
I’m sittin’ on my stage-head lookin’ out at where Skipper Joe Irwin’s schooner is ridin’ at her moorin’ … thinkin’ about how weak are the things that try to pull people apart – differences in colours, creeds and opinion – weak things like the ripples tuggin’ at the schooner’s chain. And thinkin’ about how strong are the things that hold people together – strong, like Joe’s anchor, and chain, and the good holdin’ ground below.
Ted Russell, The Holdin’ Ground
Life is somewhat like when you are on a boat and there is a wind blowing. You cannot control the wind, but if you set your sails right you can get to your destination.
William Hornady
Peace of the flowing stream be yours,Water flowing, cleansing and healing.
May you be refreshed.Peace of the flowing stream be yours. Peace of the gentle breeze be yours,Winds blowing, stirring, cooling.
May you breathe deeply.Peace of the gentle breeze be yours.
Peace of the fertile earth be yours,Land giving life to diverse creatures.
May you walk on firm ground.Peace of the fertile earth be yours. Peace of the twinkling stars be yours,Lights shining, sparkling, beaming.
May your journey be filled with wonder.
Peace of the twinkling stars be yours.Diann L. Neu, Return Blessings