The Art and Spirit of Leadership

An introduction to The Art and Spirit of Leadership Most of my life has been spent as a leader and a leadership educator—in universities, in educational non-profit groups, in manufacturing plants, in retreats with engineers, artists and nurses, and in organizations helping work groups sort out dilemmas. In each of these diverse settings, I have drawn on the scientific basis for leadership which comes from many fields: history, psychology, sociology, engineering, biology, neuroscience, management, ethics. Particularly the graduate classes I have taught on “Leadership for the Public Good” have focused on the research-based guidance that comes to us from those fields. Yet, as a leader, and a poet, I have been particularly aware of the nuanced, ineffable and sometimes seemingly mysterious dimensions of leadership, including the role of presence, creativity, artistry, synchronicity and what we might call, for lack of a better word, the “spirit” of leadership. Having spent years with the science of leadership, I now find myself drawn to exploring these more subtle dimensions. They seem to rest beyond the ken of today’s science, although in years to come they may find support in emerging scientific findings. We may discover these dimensions through experience, but often find them hard to define or to put into words. That territory, where important things seem beyond words, while foreign to me as a leadership scientist and scholar, is natural territory to me as a poet. A wise colleague once reminded me that all good poems end in mystery. Perhaps here, musing about the practices of artistry, the worlds of creativity and spirit that are at the heart of creative leadership—perhaps here leadership is beyond theory, beyond technique and on terrain where some mystery will always remain. And in such realms, we have a broader sense of leadership than is the norm, an understanding that leadership is not dependent on role or status. It is rather an orientation or, as one of my students noted, “It is a way of life.” Here we see leadership as a moment-to-moment ethic of moving things ahead, of contributing to the common good. And here we have a sense that leadership, while historically thought of as an heroic, solo effort, is more often a matter of collective, collaborative energies over time. In such a framing of leadership, much mystery remains. So perhaps the value of this writing is not to provide answers but to end with critical unanswered questions still before us. As Albert Einstein reminds us, “The most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science . . . . to know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty.” The path of these musings is a path of spirit, not religion, and is an echo of Einstein’s notion about the importance of knowing that what is “impenetrable to us really exists.” In courses I have developed on creative leadership and dialogue, as well as in my work helping organizations tap into a more dynamic and creative spirit, I have had many opportunities to be intentional about my own leadership practices, as well as to share leadership practices with others, and learn from their experiences. The work itself—teaching, coaching and leading—has been my “practice field” for these approaches. What follows are my personal reflections on practices I believe can place us on the path of leading with art and spirit. My hope is that in the margins and white spaces of this book, you will find yourself remembering the practices that have sustained you, recalling practices of colleagues that have inspired you, and noting additional practices to support your leadership and your life. The words of leadership The words of leadership are words of humor too, of laughter, like the wind that tickles leaves in autumn, and lighten us as days grow long, so humor heals and helps prepare us for the winters of our work. Judy Brown, November 17, 2000 While I’ve long grappled with these ideas, the urge to write about them, to share them with you, was prompted by an unexpected encounter with a stranger and a surprising invitation. Perhaps most of our creative efforts are sparked by similar surprises—coming out of the blue of our lives, prompted by strangers. At the end of a speech I gave on the science of leading in tough times, a stranger approached me. He said he wanted me to be part of his organization’s just-to-be launched leadership development program. I was intrigued by the nature of his invitation: “Others will be covering the science of leadership. We need you to share your perspectives on the art and spirit of leadership.” I went because the very idea of such a conversation made my heart sing, and over the years I have learned to heed such signals from my heart. I travelled with a handwritten outline of twelve key ideas about leadership and a sheaf of poetry, mostly my own. Those twelve ideas appear throughout this book as its chapter headings interspersed with my poetry: 1) Listen to Yourself. Know What Makes Your Heart Sing 2) Pay Attention to Small, Early Signs of the Presence of the World You Long For 3) Model Humor, Humanity and Humility 4) Practice Generous, Wide Curiosity 5) Create Open Spaces for Yourself and for Others 6) Practice Creativity and Hold on to the Powerful Images That Emerge From That Practice 7) Expect To Find Gems, Gifts and Great Surprises in the Most Unexpected Packages 8) Take the Risk of Being Less Than Perfect 9) Lead With Story and Invite Story From Others 10) Follow the Threads of Aliveness 11) Risk Speaking in Your Natural Voice 12) Take Care Of Yourself; You Are A Treasure