Alan Alda’s new book [ yes, he’s from the TV show M*A*S*H], “If I Understood You, Would I have this Book in my Face – My adventures in the Art & Science of Relating and Communicating” ...especially the part just italicized, is fundamental today for all existing & aspiring I.T leaders. When he was acting [ now writing & teaching], he learned a lot about “Improv”,and shares that professional journey, its deep impact and broad applicability, for us all to benefit from. I’m on my 2nd careful read! Its relevance is essential, and often missing, in our currently fast changing set of I.T roles.Brace yourself for tons of insight, from voices not heard much in our profession. I will incorporate this in my Leadership Learning Forum Process. It adds clarity to needed shifts in every I.T. organization I am aware of!!
We were never famous for being particularly empathetic to line business executives consistently, even to customers or others out in the marketplace. But today having a capacity for this leadership characteristic helps relationship building, and allows trust to grow in ways that eases the disruptive potential of many new technologies engulfing some business efforts. Perhaps few of us have read or studied enough, about how/when/why empathy is useful in deploying the output of System Groups. StrengthsFinders, one of the very best personal profiling methodologies available today, can help substantially in my opinion. AND……. developing an ability to practice broad empathy, especially when it’s not a natural flow, is an absolute must for would be leaders of technology use for organizational purposes
This turns out to be a frequent dialogue for counsel, for many of us. Both developing it and recognizing it! It’s usually a mutual focus
I’ve been think/talking about this for years. Remembering my father’s experience, crafting my own…How? When? even Why? Interestingly, perhaps because of that talk/thought, others, both friends…and clients and network members, have been asking me for counsel in their own exploration of the topic. It’s surely not as black and white as it was in our father’s day. Many more options, permutations. Organizations seem to be focused on retaining some of the wisdom/insight which often [not always] accompanies long experience. And the next two generations, now in or seeking organizational power, are more open to dialogue ,once they discover its usefulness…..even generating opportunities for “round table discussions”,or dialogue with leaders who are partially or soon to be more fully retired.. [They’re safer?!?!?]. Skip the rationale, and it’s depth……….when it’s done authentically, huge value moves in both directions
Phenomenal to part of.
And it spreads
A very crucial organizational theme, in mt mind. Comes from another book about leadership and change…..”The Art of Change Leadership: Driving Transformation in a Fast Paced world” Cheryl Cran 4.8 of 5 multiple ranking comments in Amazon. I’d strongly suggest getting it for your own reading/reference/making it come alive. I am. Am also recommending it, quoting it, discussing the full meaning of the book title, in it’s macro implications, especially in micro/specific situations with clients, and graduates of my Leadership Learning Forum programs [perhaps 300 or more such groups now!!]
Answer in the “fullest sense”….. of your total input…. talk shows, magazines, newspapers, confidants, TV news, books, research papers etc., etc. This is more important than ever, with so many choices, “fake news”, endless opinions driven by deadlines, a requirement in most walks of life now, to “know more…understand well beyond your immediate chore list.
Some suggested guidelines: MULTIPLE – rely on more than several..push your search boundaries, as much as you can effectively…….. ROTATE – don’t get stuck in any channel, author, or viewpoint., w/o checking other views/sources……SETTLE on some respected /trusted “Readers” with different connections, who would easily discuss/explore together……ACCESS/EVALUATE periodically and carefully,for match up to your needs/ desires
Managing your input flow is one of every mature human’s most precious responsibilities!!
This is a quote I often am sharing lately with emerging leaders. makes sense in whatever stage you’re in, I believe. It’s worthy of being up on our work place wall!!
I just updated, actually changing very little, the full description of “My Work” as I head into my 85th year…doing more by phone,email or virtual arrangements, with clients I know well/who know me well!
Less Travel. Often more effective,!!
The basis for the 7th phase of my life!!!
Very fulfilling…. to all.
Monday May 7th is my 84th birthday, and hopefully Spring this year is arriving now more definitively also. Winter has been slow to move back off our daily weather screen. A long walk today on the National seashore…… a birthday tradition….. was wonderful despite being a clear example of the two seasons struggling for dominance. Well my sense of this 85th year’s singular, expanding & felicitous cover in my life is quite vivid.
I’m most happy to live it through
Last week I was honored @ the 50th anniversary of the Society of Information Management [SIM], in Dallas Fort Worth, 4/11-13/18. Of the 11 SIM founders I was the “kid”, but the only one with $ and staff. All the others were authors, government officials, full professors, etc., except my boss, who was also a founder, and simply said “Get this done”. So I ran SIM for three years in my budget with two very competent young female analysts, and he approved every thing we decided to do. Twenty five years later a program I designed and implemented in my own business, I re-designed and started for SIM. It was their first program of leadership development, which they multiplied and still do today, now called Regional Leadership Forum [RLF]. There are c. 7 RLF’s in chapter areas, that produce the lion’s share of SIM revenue. Now very many of the Chapter and National leaders are graduates of that program. The 50 & 25 anniversary celebration in DFW, was generously and tastefully done, including two other long standing friends/collaborators, Bart Bolton and Darwin John, both of whom were basic in bringing The Society plus RLF, to it’s impactful position today!! Importantly ready for the challenges of the Future, SIM members face, in every profession!!
I read recently of the common characteristics ascribed to water: flows around, hardly ever stopped long….grounded as much as possible…..powerful but appearing often calm/quiet….overwhelming @ times…..often present….almost always essential….sometimes hard to reach. There are others……An old Chinese parable of “Fire and Water” is superb. While not much in the current literature about leadership, these analogue connections are strikingly useful I believe. Especially in terms of the need for shifted approaches to leadership situations!! Many appearing to fit well, but beyond some of our capacity to adjust quickly. Authentically. Seamlessly. However it’s an imagery good to keep in our heads to implement when effective. A few days later I saw the award-winning movie “The Sound Of Water”, bringing another broad set of perspectives to ancient & recent expressions of leadership mentalities. Worth pondering as a full set for us all, I think
Some audio discussion of the above,will be added soon to this very brief verbal description of leadership
I read before leaving for a long time of R&R in Phoenix with Barbara, that relaxation was a learned skill. So why not get to be able to turn it on and off on demand? Tried. Got better I think. Maybe still behind others I deal with. Came back just a while ago and can’t believe how many things dimmed in that time frame, which were automatic in my usual daily process…combinations…passwords… what certain buttons in the car do…and a ton of network/systems stuff….. Brother! Well catching up, and now focused back on my website architectural plan [WMAP], which is crucial to this the 7th phase of my life!! And of interest to some of you. And will be reflected here much more visibily and continually.
On Christmas am we were settled in to a beautiful evolving day….sunny, quiet, Cape gentle temperature…”when all of a sudden”, a very high wind – dangerous level – branches flying off the trees into our windows….then a strong fast falling rain, turning to snow…..turning to a “White -out” blizzard….then power outage…………Gripping…… and then over in c. 25 minutes!!!Power back in 30 minutes. I thought it might be hours, minimum, given the date. Did it really happen?!?!? Was it just one rouge cloud?? Went for a happy walk as the day returned to its morning state. On the walk, icy snow pelts cascaded on us, but were also over by the time we reached home?!?!
Like some story of Norse Legendary Thunder-gods hurling lightning into Cape Cod’s gentle mother nature ways……
Been perfect since then….. we’ll all see what the new year brings………..
