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Whatever we do together is pure invention.The maps they gave us were out of date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