It could be the sun streaming through my window and the onset of spring, it could be my upcoming wedding, it could be the conference call I'm chairing tomorrow on dreams and what we want from our lives with leaders in Johannesburg, it could be the end of another emerging leaders course, it could be my new role in a month, or it could be all of these things... but I've been thinking a lot about dreams, the future and new beginnings.
I've emerged from a period at the end of last year of head down get the work done cling on to whatever little energy and health you have, as you reach the end of the year with a cold and exhausted. Now with the start of a new year, and 2 months later the start of spring, with a real focus on me, what I'm doing, what I want, and on the flipside the people around me, how are they doing, what do they want and how can I help. Regaining this perspective has done wonders for me and now I really can dream and think of the the future, I'd forgotten what it was like when everything is coming together and you're firing on all cylinders.
I had a great conversation with three people on my emerging leaders course about Time, and how we create time for ourselves in this non stop 24/7 world and world of wor. It was really empowering to hear how they were trying to focus on the whole self, really work out what mattered to them and focus on that and prioritise that above anything else. How they had ways of working out the non-negotiables and sticking to them no matter what pressures were put on them. I take my hats off to them, it was a real eye opener and reminder to keep perspective and do what matters to you and those that you love.
That course finished last week, a wonderful bunch they were, and it could be a time to see things as having come to an end, but rather I'm thinking about what they are going to be doing, the difference they will be making, for many years to come and wishing them well. Their futures will be rosy and I'm sure their dreams will be fulfilled.
So i guess I'm embracing the sunshining through the windows, the opportunities the future holds, while remembering to keep perspective and what's important and matters to you firmly at the centre of everything. Onwards and upwards to new things and adieu.
A
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Friday 30 July 2010
Risk, caution and skepticism: an exchange of views from London to Bangalore
Risk, caution and skepticism: an exchange of views from London to Bangalore
This morning I had the pleasure of engaging with a group of emerging leaders in London and also in Bangalore on a course module on ‘Courage and Caution’.
Working with my group as always is a pleasure, and will continue to be throughout the final day of the course tomorrow and beyond.
Interacting with the Bangalore group was a pleasure personally as I have always found India a fascinating and enchanting country. I went there 10 years ago on my gap year and since then have developed a real passion for the country fuelled by taking modules on India throughout my degree in Social Anthropology (Politics of Identity in South Asia being a true highlight), reading Indian literature (Rohinton Mistry being a favourite) and now working with my colleagues in India and the participant group there.
At the start of the event we shared our quote for the event, a lovely little piece kindly provided by my colleague in Bangalore which was: your life shrinks and expands in proportion to the courage you have.
We spent some time exchanging views on Courage and Caution and I was struck by how our participants saw Courage as a long term ‘drip drip’ affair and not defined by single acts of courage, such as jumping out of a plane. When we started to discuss different elements of courage, in terms of physical vs moral courage, it was interesting to see how for some physical courage was much easier to exercise as it was just a single act potentially with a risk of physical pain, compared to moral courage which is based on your beliefs and values, which are so personal, and so hard to compromise.
There was general agreement that we need a greater culture of risk taking, which has been hindered by the recession, but it needs to be coupled with support from your bosses to be able to make mistakes, to be helped in judging how to play it and trust.
We were very lucky to hear from a gentleman from Bangalore who joined us in London who shared his leadership journey in relation to Courage and Caution, from investment banker to founder of a charity which helps 3000 slum children. He talked of the courage it took him to forego the path that was laid for him being brought up in a middle class life to do an MBA, enter the financial sector and become a millionaire. He made the realisation that he shouldn’t accept the inequality in Indian society, and that he needed to move away from the ‘it can’t be changed, what can I do?’ attitude and said, ‘well actually I can and I will’.
He was truly inspirational with a wonderful blend of humility, self belief and passion, and really did resonate with the group. He went on to discuss many things and it reiterated for me that while the context of his journey is very different to mine, the personal issues and challenges he faced are ones that I have, am and will continue to face.
After our time with our speaker we linked up with the Bangalore International Navigator group via video conference. I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say the were truly buzzing from their time with the UK Prime Minister. They had in depth small group discussions with him and he was very forthcoming by all accounts in discussing Courage and Caution in Leadership and shared with us their perception of him.
They said that he was an authentic and compassionate communicator who really could relate to the audience’s context. This led to general mood of surprise with London participants.
We did then discuss the difference between perceptions being due to many reasons, such as the difference between seeing someone ‘out there’ on the TV, in the media, versus in the flesh, does that affect the way that you receive them, how they can resonate and appeal to you?
It also threw up the question: are we, in the UK, too cynical and quick to judge people and not listen to the content of what they are saying because we’ve already made our mind up? Have our judgments been made and can our minds be changed? We explored what extent cynicism and skepticism borne out of disenchantment with politics and politicians means. Are that we are the harshest of judges, maybe not taking people on their face value and merit?
One of my participants did share with me after the event that he had found the event challenging on a personal level due to him having to reassess how he judges people. He was questioning whether he is too cynical, and if he gives people he has a certain view of a fair shot? A question that I won’t answer for him, but one that I hope he continues to reflect on.
The question was posed by a Bangalore participant: does having a young Prime Minister mean that more young people are getting involved with politics? It’s a fair and logical question to ask. However it was felt generally that this wasn’t the case, but there has been a huge increase in young people being interested in, involved in, and passionate about political issues in the UK.
This morning I had the pleasure of engaging with a group of emerging leaders in London and also in Bangalore on a course module on ‘Courage and Caution’.
Working with my group as always is a pleasure, and will continue to be throughout the final day of the course tomorrow and beyond.
Interacting with the Bangalore group was a pleasure personally as I have always found India a fascinating and enchanting country. I went there 10 years ago on my gap year and since then have developed a real passion for the country fuelled by taking modules on India throughout my degree in Social Anthropology (Politics of Identity in South Asia being a true highlight), reading Indian literature (Rohinton Mistry being a favourite) and now working with my colleagues in India and the participant group there.
At the start of the event we shared our quote for the event, a lovely little piece kindly provided by my colleague in Bangalore which was: your life shrinks and expands in proportion to the courage you have.
We spent some time exchanging views on Courage and Caution and I was struck by how our participants saw Courage as a long term ‘drip drip’ affair and not defined by single acts of courage, such as jumping out of a plane. When we started to discuss different elements of courage, in terms of physical vs moral courage, it was interesting to see how for some physical courage was much easier to exercise as it was just a single act potentially with a risk of physical pain, compared to moral courage which is based on your beliefs and values, which are so personal, and so hard to compromise.
There was general agreement that we need a greater culture of risk taking, which has been hindered by the recession, but it needs to be coupled with support from your bosses to be able to make mistakes, to be helped in judging how to play it and trust.
We were very lucky to hear from a gentleman from Bangalore who joined us in London who shared his leadership journey in relation to Courage and Caution, from investment banker to founder of a charity which helps 3000 slum children. He talked of the courage it took him to forego the path that was laid for him being brought up in a middle class life to do an MBA, enter the financial sector and become a millionaire. He made the realisation that he shouldn’t accept the inequality in Indian society, and that he needed to move away from the ‘it can’t be changed, what can I do?’ attitude and said, ‘well actually I can and I will’.
He was truly inspirational with a wonderful blend of humility, self belief and passion, and really did resonate with the group. He went on to discuss many things and it reiterated for me that while the context of his journey is very different to mine, the personal issues and challenges he faced are ones that I have, am and will continue to face.
After our time with our speaker we linked up with the Bangalore International Navigator group via video conference. I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say the were truly buzzing from their time with the UK Prime Minister. They had in depth small group discussions with him and he was very forthcoming by all accounts in discussing Courage and Caution in Leadership and shared with us their perception of him.
They said that he was an authentic and compassionate communicator who really could relate to the audience’s context. This led to general mood of surprise with London participants.
We did then discuss the difference between perceptions being due to many reasons, such as the difference between seeing someone ‘out there’ on the TV, in the media, versus in the flesh, does that affect the way that you receive them, how they can resonate and appeal to you?
It also threw up the question: are we, in the UK, too cynical and quick to judge people and not listen to the content of what they are saying because we’ve already made our mind up? Have our judgments been made and can our minds be changed? We explored what extent cynicism and skepticism borne out of disenchantment with politics and politicians means. Are that we are the harshest of judges, maybe not taking people on their face value and merit?
One of my participants did share with me after the event that he had found the event challenging on a personal level due to him having to reassess how he judges people. He was questioning whether he is too cynical, and if he gives people he has a certain view of a fair shot? A question that I won’t answer for him, but one that I hope he continues to reflect on.
The question was posed by a Bangalore participant: does having a young Prime Minister mean that more young people are getting involved with politics? It’s a fair and logical question to ask. However it was felt generally that this wasn’t the case, but there has been a huge increase in young people being interested in, involved in, and passionate about political issues in the UK.
Friday 8 January 2010
New Years Resolutions
It's that time of year again when the dreaded 'New Years Resolutions' get bandied about and I start to dread being asked, so what are your resolutions? Now don't get me wrong I'm not being all bah humbug about them, if you can come up with them, stick with them and achieve them then hats off to you, it's quite the achievement in my book. My issue is that whenever I have felt the calendar proscribed push to come up with some I generally pick something generic that my heart isn't really into, I think you can guess what happens with them......
I'm a big believer in setting yourself goals, ambitions, dreams and working your way to achieving them, they are key and something to be taken with the utmost respect and dedication. I just struggle when I feel I should come up with some because everyone else is. It does get me thinking and reappraising, maybe refreshing, my goals and aims though, so for that I guess I do owe new years resolutions something.
At the end of 2008 I decided that one of my goals was to finally do something that I had been thinking about for a while, and with some 'encouragement' from my other half, well more like a firm push and kick, embarked on becoming a mentor to a young lad. This has been a long drawn out process of training, interview, matching and so on and didn't start till June last year. It's for a year and will finish in June this year. Now I don't intend at this point going into the details of this, I shall save that treat for a later date, but it did occur to me that my resolution to do it will take over a year and a half to complete. Due to the drawn out nature of it, and actually doing it at the moment, I haven't really thought about what next, and as time passes and the end becomes closer I find myself thinking about the next step.
What do I want to do? Where does mentoring take me? I'm not too sure at the moment, but maybe my "New Years Resolution" for the want of a better term is to keep thinking about this, so it isn't quite the 'get fit' goal that I have but haven't quite got round to starting (blaming the snow at the moment, what will I blame when it all goes?), but it's a start and hopefully will take me somewhere.
So what are your resolutions, aims, goals, dreams, plans, and how are you going to make sure you get there?
A
I'm a big believer in setting yourself goals, ambitions, dreams and working your way to achieving them, they are key and something to be taken with the utmost respect and dedication. I just struggle when I feel I should come up with some because everyone else is. It does get me thinking and reappraising, maybe refreshing, my goals and aims though, so for that I guess I do owe new years resolutions something.
At the end of 2008 I decided that one of my goals was to finally do something that I had been thinking about for a while, and with some 'encouragement' from my other half, well more like a firm push and kick, embarked on becoming a mentor to a young lad. This has been a long drawn out process of training, interview, matching and so on and didn't start till June last year. It's for a year and will finish in June this year. Now I don't intend at this point going into the details of this, I shall save that treat for a later date, but it did occur to me that my resolution to do it will take over a year and a half to complete. Due to the drawn out nature of it, and actually doing it at the moment, I haven't really thought about what next, and as time passes and the end becomes closer I find myself thinking about the next step.
What do I want to do? Where does mentoring take me? I'm not too sure at the moment, but maybe my "New Years Resolution" for the want of a better term is to keep thinking about this, so it isn't quite the 'get fit' goal that I have but haven't quite got round to starting (blaming the snow at the moment, what will I blame when it all goes?), but it's a start and hopefully will take me somewhere.
So what are your resolutions, aims, goals, dreams, plans, and how are you going to make sure you get there?
A
Thursday 10 December 2009
Passion and Values
I had the pleasure last week of exploring Passion and what role it plays in leadership, and I was really struck by people's thoughts on their Passion being about values, who you are and authenticity.
I couldn't agree more, my passion for young people is to do with my values, upbringing and life experiences and is something that does drive me massively, albeit outside of my day job.
But what really resonated, as I think about it now, is a something slightly different and a lot more personal (although values and who you are being clearly personal). In my last blog I mentioned that things for my family have been tough of late, the loss of two very dear relatives struck us deeply, knocked us off kilter and did all those things that those things do.
It's been tough, and it's been tough thinking about how christmas would be given the last 5 months, the thought of christmas joy and happiness seemed somewhat distant and unobtainable, and maybe even unwanted. However, over the past week, things have moved on. Looking at the Thames, Eye and Big Ben from the window last Thursday evening, doing some xmas shopping (well it was online but still), seeing xmas around you has first of all reminded me it's happening (and oh so soon).
I had a good chat with my folks about xmas plans, and the whole family is descending on our house, and that really gave me some xmas cheer. Somehow at that point I knew it would all be fine, that the xmas cheer would be there by the bucket load, that we would all be fine, and rejoice in each others company while remembering those that couldn't be there.
Last week we discussed what happens when you lose you passion, or when it changes dramatically because things aren't quite what they seemed. I don't have an answer to that, but I do know that my passion for my family went through a tough time as we went through a tough time (it didn't go, but it had a wobble shall we say for the want of a better way to put it), but has come back even stronger, so I guess for me, while it may be tough at times, the smallest things can put things back into perspective and remind of your passion, values, and who you are.
A
I couldn't agree more, my passion for young people is to do with my values, upbringing and life experiences and is something that does drive me massively, albeit outside of my day job.
But what really resonated, as I think about it now, is a something slightly different and a lot more personal (although values and who you are being clearly personal). In my last blog I mentioned that things for my family have been tough of late, the loss of two very dear relatives struck us deeply, knocked us off kilter and did all those things that those things do.
It's been tough, and it's been tough thinking about how christmas would be given the last 5 months, the thought of christmas joy and happiness seemed somewhat distant and unobtainable, and maybe even unwanted. However, over the past week, things have moved on. Looking at the Thames, Eye and Big Ben from the window last Thursday evening, doing some xmas shopping (well it was online but still), seeing xmas around you has first of all reminded me it's happening (and oh so soon).
I had a good chat with my folks about xmas plans, and the whole family is descending on our house, and that really gave me some xmas cheer. Somehow at that point I knew it would all be fine, that the xmas cheer would be there by the bucket load, that we would all be fine, and rejoice in each others company while remembering those that couldn't be there.
Last week we discussed what happens when you lose you passion, or when it changes dramatically because things aren't quite what they seemed. I don't have an answer to that, but I do know that my passion for my family went through a tough time as we went through a tough time (it didn't go, but it had a wobble shall we say for the want of a better way to put it), but has come back even stronger, so I guess for me, while it may be tough at times, the smallest things can put things back into perspective and remind of your passion, values, and who you are.
A
Friday 30 October 2009
Old, New and Unknown
I have spent a lot of time over the last month away from friends as have been spending time with my family after a sad loss. While it has been necessary to be with my family, and is amazing to see everyone pull together, I have been away from London and friends for a while. Now I don’t mean to be insensitive, seem self absorbed, or “all about me”, the nature of a blog can be that that’s the case. It just struck me how much you miss that stimulation, good times, jokes, messing around and talking inane rubbish.
This may seem a no-brainer, and I guess it is, but I was surprised how just over a few weeks I have really noticed this.
So where to from here I hear you shout (although is the internet like space, where nobody can hear you scream/shout?), well it got me thinking about the old, new and unknown.
I have missed the old (friends) while spending time with the really old (family), and have many new and unknown to get to know on the course. While the old (friends and family) are like a pair of old slippers, although having never worn slippers I wouldn’t know, but I get the sentiment, I am really excited about the new and unknown, and the process of the unknown becoming the new, and then wherever it takes us.
The nature of my role is one of unknown becoming new, becoming known, becoming old, I add that I am not being ageist, but rather the process of meeting, getting to know, knowing, understanding, and then seeing what next. This is one of the best parts of the role for me, walking into a room of 50 emerging leaders, who you will spend the next 5 months with, who you know to those that are unknown is so exciting and interesting, and is a real honour, you don’t find yourself in that situation everyday.
For all of the people on the course, the unknown will become the known, and the people the unknown then the closely known, I look forward to it.
A
This may seem a no-brainer, and I guess it is, but I was surprised how just over a few weeks I have really noticed this.
So where to from here I hear you shout (although is the internet like space, where nobody can hear you scream/shout?), well it got me thinking about the old, new and unknown.
I have missed the old (friends) while spending time with the really old (family), and have many new and unknown to get to know on the course. While the old (friends and family) are like a pair of old slippers, although having never worn slippers I wouldn’t know, but I get the sentiment, I am really excited about the new and unknown, and the process of the unknown becoming the new, and then wherever it takes us.
The nature of my role is one of unknown becoming new, becoming known, becoming old, I add that I am not being ageist, but rather the process of meeting, getting to know, knowing, understanding, and then seeing what next. This is one of the best parts of the role for me, walking into a room of 50 emerging leaders, who you will spend the next 5 months with, who you know to those that are unknown is so exciting and interesting, and is a real honour, you don’t find yourself in that situation everyday.
For all of the people on the course, the unknown will become the known, and the people the unknown then the closely known, I look forward to it.
A
Friday 9 October 2009
I had the pleasure and honour to spend the final day facilitating the final core day of the emerging leaders course a week ago and have wanted to share my thoughts on it, reflect on the good times, and share my experience of the day.
Where to start? Well I guess first and foremost I was amazed by people's ability to go 12 hours plus straight with a smile on their face, inquistiveness on their tongue, and self reflection and challenge etched on their brow, while all I felt was exhaustion etched all over me. I don't think I need to go into details of the day, this is rather a random collection of thoughts from the day as they have sunk in.
The 'tribe', thanks Houston, really shared their learning, and hopes for their leadership future in such an open and trusting way, as they shuffled, hopped and skipped into the circle as and when what was shared resonated with them. Even the close proximity of the exercise, as people hopped ever closer into a ball, really struck me as indicative of the group and the way they bonded and respected each other. I'm not one for huge sentimental gushings, well sometimes, but it really brought home to me what 5 months of challenging, supporting and working together can do for 40 strangers.
So what is the leader they want to become, as we asked them at the end of the day? That I look forward to finding out as they go out and take London, the UK and the world by storm, and I hope they continue to do it with a smile on their face, inquisitiveness on their tongues, and reflection and challenge etched on their brow.
Where to start? Well I guess first and foremost I was amazed by people's ability to go 12 hours plus straight with a smile on their face, inquistiveness on their tongue, and self reflection and challenge etched on their brow, while all I felt was exhaustion etched all over me. I don't think I need to go into details of the day, this is rather a random collection of thoughts from the day as they have sunk in.
The 'tribe', thanks Houston, really shared their learning, and hopes for their leadership future in such an open and trusting way, as they shuffled, hopped and skipped into the circle as and when what was shared resonated with them. Even the close proximity of the exercise, as people hopped ever closer into a ball, really struck me as indicative of the group and the way they bonded and respected each other. I'm not one for huge sentimental gushings, well sometimes, but it really brought home to me what 5 months of challenging, supporting and working together can do for 40 strangers.
So what is the leader they want to become, as we asked them at the end of the day? That I look forward to finding out as they go out and take London, the UK and the world by storm, and I hope they continue to do it with a smile on their face, inquisitiveness on their tongues, and reflection and challenge etched on their brow.
Friday 11 September 2009
Diversity of Networks
I spent a very enjoyable evening watching, listening to, and interacting with a group of London's emerging leaders around the topic of the Power of Networks and Social Capital. The energy in the room was exhilarating, and while a lot of what was discussed is still bouncing around in my head as thoughts and ideas form, debate with each other and evolve, I thought I would put 'pen to paper' as it were.
What struck me was that the old saying, or should I say cop-out, of one person can't change the world, really is a cop-out and quite frankly ludicrous. One person is never just one person, they are part of something so much bigger, surrounded by different people, and are never 'an island'.
What they choose to do as part of the greater I, the networks they are in, the people who look to them for leadership and direction, family friends, colleagues etc is up to them. But it is so refreshing to hear people say that a seed has been sown and that they want to work together, pool their collective social capital, and make real change happen.
Long may it last, long may they surround themselves with diverse networks, long may they offer inspiration, stimulus, drive, challenge and friendship to each other.
A
What struck me was that the old saying, or should I say cop-out, of one person can't change the world, really is a cop-out and quite frankly ludicrous. One person is never just one person, they are part of something so much bigger, surrounded by different people, and are never 'an island'.
What they choose to do as part of the greater I, the networks they are in, the people who look to them for leadership and direction, family friends, colleagues etc is up to them. But it is so refreshing to hear people say that a seed has been sown and that they want to work together, pool their collective social capital, and make real change happen.
Long may it last, long may they surround themselves with diverse networks, long may they offer inspiration, stimulus, drive, challenge and friendship to each other.
A
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