It has become culturally popular in the past few years to reject the idea of political correctness. Mocking it, blaming it, eschewing it; all a welcome party game – whether the party is political or social. And I am tempted, at times, to join this game since you cannot seem to lose, and I love games I cannot lose.
Read MoreThere is an understanding of courage that dominates the perception of society. It is the image of the athlete and the soldier. It assumes that the heights of courage are reached when physical comfort is traded for some form of glory through pain. When the body is uncompromised by its adversary and perseveres toward its end goal. Through repetition and discipline, the objects of veneration for physical courage train their bodies for automation and precision. We call it toughness. We call it strength. We call it courage.
Read MoreThis message has been some time in coming. I’ve been feeling a few different pulls on me the last 10 weeks or so. And for reasons I’ll get to explaining, I had decided to be quiet on here while I tried to cooperate with the competing currents pulling at my heart and mind. But in order to explain my silence, a few data points need acknowledgement.
Read MoreWalking across a college campus during the first weeks of fall classes is like nothing else. Students are back, or experiencing college for the first time. The first-year students still look you in the eye and smile as they walk by. There's a sense of hope that the semester will go well, that friendships are out there to be made, that your goals are attainable.
Read MoreIt felt like the punches just kept coming. Whatever she did, someone found something to criticize. And it was increasingly personal. That's how Sarah described the situation in her organization a year ago. Like she could never let her guard down. Like those who claimed to be her allies and confidants weren't safe or reliable. Like things would just not get better.
Read MoreIt's amazing how many nights Elise and I get home, and we ask the other, "Did you see what happened today?" The other usually replies, "Oh god, what now?" In fact, we're so ready to be shocked anew that when one of us, while looking at our phone, says, "Oh wow!", the other just assumes it's something further diminishing the dignity and wellbeing of the greater community - even when it's just us reacting to a video of two lynx screaming at each other.
Read MoreWhat if you are holding buckets of water while standing next to a fire that threatened a child, and you stand there and offer your outrage at the fire? What if you stood with unused bandages next to a bleeding friend, and rather than stop the bleeding, you offered thoughts and prayers?
Read MoreThere's a man I see nearly every day at the coffee shop I work from. At least once a week he asks me to remind him of my name. We've talked a few times, he's asked what I do, I've explained the nonprofit to him, and he's told me about his work as a civil engineer. We sit at the same big common table. When he arrives, he always looks at me like I'm a guy he used to know but is surprised to see again. But he can never remember my name.
Read MoreSometimes, knowing the way forward is easy. I recently heard a politician taking the time to publicly explain the difference between what he was doing and what the Nazis did. Feeling the need to do that is a pretty solid sign you're going down the wrong road. But often, we're faced with decisions in our life and work that are not obviously good and bad.
Read MoreWho do you think of when you think of a leader? Leaders can often take on a larger than life presence in our imagination. They become icons, representative of what it means to lead. But these icons are often made into caricatures, one-dimensional people from whom we draw some problematic lessons. I want to introduce you to three leaders who've drawn problematic lessons from their icons of leadership.
Read MoreLeadership as a concept can be made to mean almost anything. Culturally, we apply the word leadership to actions that benefit a few individuals as readily as we apply it to those we see as working for the broader good. Business leader, faith leader, political leader, thought leader, industry leader - all called leaders regardless of what they're leading toward.
Read MoreWe thought we were going for an interview. Instead, they handed us the keys and told us to be bold. We were 23, had just been made co-executive directors, and were splitting a $27,000 salary for a nonprofit that was $10,000 in the red.
Read MoreIt was supposed to be everything I wanted. As Visiting Assistant Professor for Community-Based Learning at Grand Valley State University, I had finally found a position that reflected my unique academic interests. The department chair and college dean were supportive and I got along great with the other three professors who were starting at the same time.
Read MoreSometime around 2008, a small church in central Oregon decided to call 'time of death' on their committees. No more committee for grounds keeping, for fellowship and coffee hour, for welcoming new members. From then on, the council and staff had a new way of responding to requests and suggestions for what the church should do next or do differently: "Cool idea - you should go do it!" The response over the next two years was amazing.
Read MoreLeadership is a difficult word to define. This is true, in part, because of the wide variety of behaviors and values that are attached to the term. Often times, a person who holds an office of influence or power is referred to as a leader, without any more of a definition provided.
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