Tag: Philosophy

Self-Awareness

Highly self-aware leaders have developed their sense of purpose, they act from their internal centre, consciously expressing their core values. They ‘walk the talk’ and understand their strengths and challenges. Leadership self-awareness is a constant inquiry into ourselves and others’ experiences.  Consider how you react when you or your ideas are criticized, when a colleague..

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What do popcorn and ethical leaders have in common?

popcorn in ceramic bowl

Each of us sees the world through a value structure whether we formally acknowledge it or not.  This is true – if you recall when you were in school you learned about stories and discussed the meaning and value of the message – narrative analysis based on good and bad.  There was a good character,..

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Indigenous Theologies and Epistemologies and Christianity

Many Christians struggle to bridge Indigenous spirituality with Christianity. I believe it is possible to see unifying characteristics and respect differences as together we seek Creator God. With that quest in mind, I embarked this fall on a course at Vancouver School of Theology with Dr. Ray Aldred called Indigenous Theologies and Epistemologies. Indigenous theology..

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Stillness – concluding thoughts

The experience of stillness has the benefits of increased attentiveness and detachment while at the same time nurturing connectedness to a bigger picture and deeper meaning. This can be illustrated by Saint-Exupery’s desert experience. In Dec. 1935 Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, crashed in the desert. In his story of survival in..

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How leaders can incorporate stillness: challenges and potential solutions

This penultimate post suggests methods for incorporating stillness and identifies challenges as well as potential solutions for those interested in incorporating stillness as part of leading self and others in a VUCA world. Harvard Business Review authors Talbot-Zorn and Marz (2017) wrote a blog titled “The busier you are, the more you need quiet time”…

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Benefits of stillness for leaders

This post explores persuasive benefits or leaders to create stillness in their own lives. Stillness is relevant for twenty-first century professionals. Professionals, indeed all individuals seek significance, yet faced with insecurities, rejection, failures and shame can be rendered immobilized or otherwise inhibited in their authentic contribution to the greater whole of the organization. Stillness is..

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An example of a business person who incorporates stillness in his professional life

This post offers an example of a business person who incorporates stillness in his professional life. The example sheds light on the discipline of stillness and how the development of a contemplative mind can serve the professional and the organization. Peter Ng Kok Song is an example of a business person who incorporates stillness in..

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Perspectives on Stillness for a VUCA World: Introduction

It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and yet the impact was undeniably profound. In a very hot Aug. 2019 I participated with close to two hundred other participants in a four-day silent meditation retreat.  For me, the retreat was an effort to foster an appropriate disposition in the face of my..

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Jean Vanier: A Paradox

For many years, Jean Vanier has influenced my personal and professional journey. I have taught and written about inclusion, the dignity of the human person and peace leadership in reference to Vanier, the founder of L’Arche. Because of his great impact on my life, I am profoundly disturbed by the news that he was a..

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Jan 30 is the 71st anniversary of the death of a great peace leader – Mohandas Gandhi

Gandhi was born Oct. 2 1869 and died (he was shot) Jan. 30 1948 at the age of 79. May 1893 Mohandas Gandhi was thrown off a South African train, motivating him to fight for Indian rights in the British colony.  He is often described as the spiritual and political leader of India. His list..

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