Purpose Moment

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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Purpose Shared: "Becoming a Wise Leader" -Richard Leider

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"It took all of his people wisdom to take a stand to serve the common good of all others."

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We're honored to publish this original essay by Richard Leider, the "father" of the Purpose Movement as our inaugural posting for our Purpose Shared Series. Who better than Richard to share his reflections on what is needed and wanted from our leaders in these days of destabilization?

Becoming a Wise Leader

“When there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do no harm.” ‐ African proverb

The ultimate test of wise leadership is this:

Can you regard your leadership, no matter how dire the challenge, as one of serving the common good of others? Do you have a purpose larger than yourself for leading?

Most of us have a keen awareness of wisdom when it is present in our leaders (and in ourselves). And, we have an uneasy feeling of distrust and disengagement with it is absent.

To become a wise leader, one must be “people wise.”

Have you recently heard an inner voice whispering to you things like: “I don’t think I can do it?” “I’m not enough.” “What if I fail?”

That is the enemy within you speaking to you. It is the voice that speaks to you when you need to step outside your comfort zone. It’s the voice of fear. We all hear it occasionally. It’s part of being human.

The answer is not to kill it or suffocate it – but, to dive head first into it! Identify the voice with choice, curiosity, and courage.

Why? Because what you resist will persist.

Nelson Mandela’s actions reflected the truth about becoming a wise leader ‐ “to lead wisely, one must be people wise.” When Mandela became President of South Africa on May 10, 1994, he faced countless challenges outside his comfort zone. And, he faced his inner voice of fear. Upon his release from prison, he was greeted with banners reading, “Mandela Go Home, to Prison” and “Hang Mandela.”

It took all of his people wisdom to take a stand to serve the common good of all others. To become the leader that South Africa needed, he chose to embrace the national rugby team, the Springboks. Popular with Afrikaners, to most blacks the Springboks represented the apartheid system that they despised. Nevertheless, Mandela chose South Africa to host rugby’s World Cup the following year with the slogan, “One Team, One Country.”

As the Springboks began to win in the fierce World Cup competition, the mood in the country shifted. When the players (all but one of them white) showed up in public, they were greeted not just by Afrikaners, but by blacks as well.

The Springboks made it to the finals. They were to play the New Zealand All Blacks, considered as one of the finest rugby teams in history.

Five minutes before the game played before sixty‐five thousand chanting and singing fans, Mandela walked in to the stadium wearing a Springbok’s jersey, the very symbol of apartheid that so many hated.

With millions more watching on TV or listening on the radio, the crowd of mostly Afrikaners went wild with a deafening chant of “Nel‐son,” “Nel‐son!” The country was united for the moment – “One Team, One Country”. It was a moment that many people realized that this country could work.

Mandel showed that he could forgive and become the wise leader they wanted.

The Springbok’s won the thrilling championship game in overtime.

Mandela’s stand embodied what it means to be “people‐wise.” After decades of apartheid and afte twenty‐seven years in prison, it would have been natural for him to focus on the wants of his black constituents at the expense of the broader interests of the country.

But, Mandela had become a leader with a people‐wise view. His actions toward the Springboks served as a powerful symbol of what the new South Africa might be like. They reflected his wise awareness of how others very different from himself would react to changes accelerating around them.

Nelson Mandela has two critical things to teach us about becoming wise leaders.

First, “becoming” means clearly understanding the difference between being smart and being wise.

They’re not the same. Wisdom demands insight and effectiveness with people. A leader can be very smart without being smart about people. Becoming a wise leader requires having a feel for people – their hopes, fears, passions, and purposes.

Second, becoming a wise leader means understanding “Why things are the way they are.” Aristotle claimed that wisdom comes from our understanding of “why” things are the way they are. To him, a smart person knows a lot about “what” and “how” but a wise person understands “why.”

It was Mandela’s understanding of the “why” of all South Africans that testifies to his greatness as a “people‐wise” leader. He had no enemy within. 1

What makes a Leader wise?

We like to believe that our leaders are smart people. But, as Nelson Mandela showed us, being smart is not enough in the long run. So, how does one go from being a smart leader to becoming a wise leader? Start by seeing the world differently – from the inside out. A wise leader is constantly becoming more self‐aware. Without self‐awareness, it’s very hard to move out of smartness. The “dean of leadership gurus”, the late Warren Bennis wrote: “The leader never lies to himself, especially about himself, knows his flaws as well as his assets, and deals with them directly.” Even though Bennis mentored CEOs, taught countless soon‐to‐be leaders while teaching at Harvard, MIT, and USC, and advised U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, he never pretended he knew everything. He wrote, “To an extent, leadership is like beauty:

It’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it.” Do you see it in yourself? Do others see it in you? 

Self‐awareness is the “soul” of wise leadership. Without a soul, a leader is nothing more than a smart suit.

The Big Idea: Becoming Self‐Aware

Self‐awareness is the “soul” of wise leadership. Without a soul, a leader is nothing more than a smart suit. For more information read “Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation” by John Carlin, and watch the film Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

Richard Leider, founder of Inventure – The Purpose Company, is one of America’s preeminent executive‐life coaches.

He is ranked by Forbes as one of the “Top 5” most respected executive coaches, and by the Conference Board as a “legend in coaching.” Richard has written ten books, including three best sellers, which have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 20 languages.

Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose are considered classics in the personal development field. Richard’s PBS Special – The Power of Purpose – was viewed by millions of people across the U.S. 

©2018 Inventure ‐ The Purpose Company richardleider.com

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AoC book ranked 73k out of 8,000,000

Good News! Many thanks to those of you who recently bought the AoC book. Out of 8,000,000 books we were ranked 73,000 this week. What a testament to your support and the power of convening. BTW, we were also #26 in Business Communications and #71 in Running Meetings & Presentations. Still time to buy another before the new year 

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Get to know the CPL Team!

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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Recently we announced our growing team of consultants, coaches and trainers. We are excited to be working with these wonderful and experienced leaders to improve purposeful leadership in every organization. Get to know these individuals below and see how they may be of assistance to you in growing yourself personally and professionally.  

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Rachel Harris: With over 15 years of leading teams for impact, Rachel consults for organizations in transition and trains people on collaboration methods. She also leads strategy and communications at CPL...Read More

Claudia Eisinger: As a qualitative research specialist and group facilitator, Claudia Eisinger has 25 years of qualitative research experience in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Specializing in complex, cutting-edge advertising and branding research, ...Read More

Vivian Jenkins Nelsen: Jenkins Nelsen is a nationally and internationally recognized and highly sought-after diversity consultant, trainer, planner, researcher and lecturer, who speaks to thousands of people...Read More

Barbara Shipka: Barbara has 30 years experience in executive coaching, leadership development, and organization effectiveness. Most of those years have been devoted to working in large US corporations including American Express, Cargill, General Mills, and Medtronic...Read More

Kim Kristenson-Lee: Over twenty-five years’ experience in increasingly challenging roles at a Fortune Five energy company have honed my ability to work with teams and individuals during times of transition and renewal. I am a service-oriented developer of team capability...Read More

Lynn Nelson: LIN PR Principal Lynn Ingrid Nelson has over 20 years of experience in public relations, public affairs and communications. She has extensive experience in virtually all facets of organizational...Read More

Sarah Flores: Sarah is currently a Senior in the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa, majoring in Marketing Management with an interest in green marketing and sustainability. Sarah has been working with CPL for almost a year to increase and improve CPL's...Read More

Eric Todd: As the in-house photographer for CPL/Heartland, Eric has thousands of photos showcasing a vast array of thought leaders. His background in photojournalism, videography and media production is crucial support for CPL events...Read More

Cindy Wold: As co-author, with Craig and Patricia, of The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations, Cindy is a core collaborator and consultant to CPL. In addition to working with the CPL team...Read More

Mark Fawcett: As a core partner, Mac Men powers CPL with indispensable IT service. Mac Men is a professional computer repair, tech consulting, and training company based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota...Read More

To read more about our team leaders check out our CPL Team Bio page here.

We are so lucky to have such a strong and skilled set of professionals on our team. CPL is committed to creating purposeful leadership and effective convening within your organization. If you would like to learn more about our programs or receive insightful tips, follow us on our social media, subscribe to our blog or give us a call at 612.920.3029

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Millennials and Leadership Development

photo credit: Todd photography

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By Sarah Flores

Entering a new company or organization can be intimidating and invigorating all at the same time. As more and more millennials enter their careers, the workforce will begin to change its usual ways. Employer’s and mentors must progressively welcome and encourage new ideas from the newcomers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is predicted that by 2030 millennials will make up 75% of our workforce.  Although millennials may have a different approach to operations, it is important that we all learn from each other. Millennials bring fresh new ideas, but also seek guidance from leaders to eventually turn themselves into the leaders of an organization or company.

A study conducted by Deloitte, a professional services firm, found that 71% of Millennials that leave within the first 2 years felt their leadership skills were not being fully developed. However, that percentage decreases to 54% for those who stay more than 5 years. This shows not only does supporting leadership development help to retain employees longer but also helps to increase their satisfaction in leadership development. As we look at these numbers, 54% feeling their leadership skills are being underdeveloped is still a concerning number. We as current leaders and mentors must take it upon ourselves to guide the leaders of tomorrow.

The Center For Purposeful Leadership works to help leaders become leaders that listen and make a positive impact on their employees. The workplace is always changing; we are here to help guide and adapt. Check out more insight to Millennials values in the workplace to see how you can incorporate a leadership development plan to grow your employees professional and personal life here: The 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey.

Follow us on our LinkedIn account and subscribe to our blog to see how CPL is laying the way for leaders of today and tomorrow.

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Are You Owning Successes and Setbacks as a Team?

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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"Notice what you are aware of and open to. Be authentic, vulnerable and courageous. This meaningful exchange creates a connected and interdependent team. Enhanced trust and commitment to one another are a result of essential conversation."

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By Rachel Harris

In a global enterprise, owning successes and setbacks as a team are imperative to long-term thriving. But, what if you are operating in the silo mindset? 

One such company, a global media production enterprise, contacted CPL and requested consultation on moving from "Point A: disenfranchised, siloed work groups" to "Point B: connected, trusted and empowered staff" in three months. Sounds impossible, right? 

After mapping out a game plan with a couple courses of action, our client selected a communications and team building virtual Art of Convening training. The training delivered methods to Connect - Engage - Collaborate over seven sessions, with homework and partner pair work. Here's what happened:

In fourteen weeks together, training participants courageously acknowledged patterns of resentment that had perpetuated their inter-continental meetings and media productions. By design, each participant relearned techniques for authentic conversation. The safe space created within the communications training afforded participants holistic access to learning the 9 Steps to Collaboration. Week by week, they renewed their respect and appreciation for each other. The foundation of trust and respect that developed in the training led to collaboration capacities and confidence to align across silos. 

The training was a resounding success and made even more so by the commitment of the CEO, who participated in each of the training sessions. Staff left the training feeling empowered and seeing the collaboration possibilities for their own divisions! Now, two more divisions will launch the Art of Convening communications and team building training in May 2017.

For a peek at one of the communications and team building training secrets to success, we share the following 3 tips for establishing a collaborative team of your own. 

1. Clarify Purpose: Assess current conditions and notice what problem you need to solve.
2. Create Invitation: Who are the key players needed for solving the problem? Choose a timeframe for people to partake in guided conversations. Set clear expectations.
3. Engage in Essential Conversation: Notice what you are aware of and open to. Be authentic, vulnerable and courageous. This meaningful exchange creates a connected and interdependent team. Enhanced trust and commitment to one another are a result of essential conversation.

Finally, the newfound interdependency leads to collaboration. We hope these tips on establishing a collaborative team are helpful. If you would like more information, we are happy to talk with you. Get in touch with Center for Purposeful Leadership, call us at 612-920-3039 or email Rachel Harris.

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Leadership is Convening

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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Leadership is Convening

Excerpt from Community: The Structure of Belonging, by Peter Block

Berrett-Koehler Publishers, May 2008

In communal transformation, leadership is about intention, convening, valuing relatedness, and presenting choices. It is not a personality characteristic or a matter of style, and therefore it requires nothing more than what all of us already have. 

This means we can stop looking for leadership as though it were scarce or lost, or it had to be trained into us by experts. If our traditional form of leadership has been studied for so long, written about with such admiration, defined by so many, worshipped by so few, and the cause of so much disappointment, maybe doing more of all that is not productive. The search for great leadership is a prime example of how we too often take something that does not work and try harder at it. I have written elsewhere about reconstructing leader as social architect.

The Art of Convening

The shift is to believe that the task of leadership is to provide context and produce engagement, to tend to our social fabric. It is to see the leader as one whose function is to engage groups of people in a way that creates accountability and commitment. In this way of thinking we hold leadership to three tasks: 

• Create a context that nurtures an alternative future, one based on gifts, generosity, accountability, and commitment.
• Initiate and convene conversations that shift people’s experience, which occurs through the way people are brought together and the nature of the questions used to engage them.
• Listen and pay attention. 

Convening leaders create and manage the social space within which citizens get deeply engaged. Through this engagement, citizens discover that it is in their power to resolve something or at least move the action forward. 

Engagement, and the accountability that grows out of it, occurs when we ask people to be in charge of their own experience and act on the well-being of the whole. Leaders do this by naming a new context and convening people into new conversations through questions that demand personal investment. This is what triggers the choice to be accountable for those things over which we can have power, even though we may have no control.

In addition to convening and naming the question, we add listening to the critical role of leadership. Listening may be the single most powerful action the leader can take. Leaders will always be under pressure to speak, but if building social fabric is important, and sustained transformation is the goal, then listening becomes the greater service. 

This kind of leadership––convening, naming the question, and listening––is restorative and produces energy rather than consumes it. It is leadership that creates accountability as it confronts people with their freedom. In this way, engagement-centered leaders bring kitchen table and street corner democracy into being.

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Uber Master Coach Richard Leider

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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by Rachel Harris

Heartland Group was founded twenty years ago in service to organizational transformation and the people who make that possible. Long­time colleague, master coach, and bestselling author Richard Leider, recently recognized Heartland's milestone. Richard, founder of Inventure - The Purpose Company, is ranked is ranked by Forbes as "one of the Top 5 most respected executive coaches." He notes Heartland's 20-year business anniversary:

"Purpose. A hard word to define, perhaps. It may not have a name or a face. We may not immediately see it as purpose, but it is there. And, Patricia and Craig saw it, named, and have worked it with grace and integrity for the past 20 years! They have held the center on the art and science of "convening with purpose". And, that has helped many of us to be confidently connected with something larger than our own lives."

~ Richard Leider, Bestselling author of The Power of Purpose

Richard has worked with over 100,000 leaders from over 100 organizations speaking on the power of purpose. Heartland has been honored to have Richard write the Foreword to Heartland's book The Art of Convening. In the foreword Richard writes:

"Many, many books come across my reading table each year, but it has been a long time since one of them affected me as much as this one has. It has struck some deep chords within me. It has reminded me that each gathering is a sacred adventure where even our struggles can lead us to what mythologist Joseph Campbell called “the rapture of being alive.” You hold in your hands a wise book."

If you are wanting to convene with purpose in your own life, you can learn and lead with grace by reading and reflecting on the 9 chapters of The Art of Convening book. 

Learn How to Convene with Purpose:

Convene with purpose in your next meeting. Move beyond facilitation to profound connection. Using the Art of Convening, transform your meetings, boost ROI, and retain your best people. Give us a jingle at 612.920.3039 to get started. Follow us on our LinkedIn page to receive helpful tips on the art of convening. 

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Transformational Highlights from the 8/5 Transformational Leaders Circle (TLC)

Photo Credit: Todd Photography

Authentic Leadership: Leading through Paradox, Ambiguity & Vulnerability

by Patricia Neal

At the August Transformational Leaders Collaboratory, Heartland focused on discussing important questions such as "What is the magic of authentic leadership?, Why are capacities of ambiguity, paradox and vulnerability core to the conversation?, What gets in the way or stops us from being our authentic selves at work?"

People want leaders who give back, care about others, and foster collaboration. They desire authentic leadership. Authentic leaders build trust and genuine connection and consider the complexities of ambiguity, paradox, and vulnerability as core to building relationships. Our Conversation Starters have stories of how they have shown up as authentic leaders to serve in the best way possible.

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"Authenticity is about establishing and showing honesty and integrity between your personality, your words, and your actions."

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Heartland hosted three amazing conversation starters...

Heartland hosted three conversation starters, Sherrie Kronforst - Senior Director of Employee Engagement, Comcast Corporation • Peter Bailey - President, The Prouty Project • Amy Ronneberg - Chief Financial Officer, Be the Match and National Marrow Donor Program. Each speaker spoke on their beliefs in leadership. Sherrie Kronforst spoke to the point of humans are the ones to make organizations successful, not vice versa: "The human spirit deserves to do worthy work aligned with each person's talents, gifts, points of view." Peter Bailey enlightened us with his passion for living practicing possibility-thinking. He always shows up authentically and creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Amy Ronneberg shared her favorite sayings, "Don't wait for the rain to pass, but learn to dance in the rain." Her qualities of compassion and resilience help her to lead within her position at Be The Match. 

After a whole group discussion with our conversation starters, the Conversation Café small group breakouts took the conversation deeper. This group of leaders included: • Yvette Trotman, Metropolitan Community & Technical College • Nausheena Hussain, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood of Empowerment (RISE) • Mary Beth Lamb, ECCO International Associate; Adjunct Faculty, Carlson School of Management, St. Catherine University Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership • Tom McSteen, Medtronic, Inc. Each thought leader ran an individual small group discussing their leadership approaches to leading through Paradox, Ambiguity & Vulnerability. 

Authenticity is about establishing and showing honesty and integrity between your personality, your words, and your actions. Every organization benefits greatly from innovation, ideas, truths expressed in an environment of possibility, positivity, and creativity.

Session Archives

During the "Big Q" question time, some compelling questions came forward [partial list]:

• What is your true spirit that inspires you to love what you do every day? Why?? (are you so passionate?) 
• How do you bring vulnerability and authenticity to yourself every day--even when you don’t want to? 
• Considering Paradox, Ambiguity & Vulnerability: what are your (or one of your) most challenging moments? What guided and sustained you? And from your experiences, what do you offer others as a point of light? 
• Is what you emphasize as a parent or a business leader changing right now as we are experiencing the pop of a couple of societal blisters of racism and political discord? (maybe throw in gender bias, too) More here

Thank you to all of our speakers, attendees and wonderful convening conversations we had at this TLC. Check out our photos from the August TLC here! If you may have missed our August TLC, check out our updated LinkedIn page full of helpful tips to master the Art of Convening. Are you wanting to collaborate with more productivity within your organization? Call us at 612.920.3029 to schedule your next consult. 

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Heading North: Father/Son/Grandson Trip

PHoto credit: craig neal

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Craig, Alec, and grandsons Henri and Charlie preparing for a long weekend in the BWCA. We will leave from Sawbill Outfitter, heading north on some of the same lakes and portages we will cover on September 1 for the 1st-ever Father/Son Journey.

6 fathers and sons are ready to journey September 1-7 (Craig/Alec, Jim/Jules, Joe/Justin). We invite one more Father/Son duo to join us.

The next group Community Call is Mon. 8/26, 12-1pm Central.

If you are interested in knowing more or registering, Click here to email Craig or call Patricia at 612-889-5812!

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Wednesday Wisdom (or Wit) from Heartland

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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"Reading and writing poetry can exercise that capacity, improving one's ability to better conceptualize the world and communicate it — through presentations or writing — to others."

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HBR Blog Network
The Benefits of Poetry for Professionals
by John Coleman  | November 27, 2012

Wallace Stevens was one of America's greatest poets. The author of "The Emperor of Ice-Cream"and "The Idea of Order at Key West" was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1955 and offered a prestigious faculty position at Harvard University. Stevens turned it down. He didn't want to give up his position as Vice President of the Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company.

This lyrically inclined insurance executive was far from alone in occupying the intersect of business and poetry. 

Dana Gioia, a poet, Stanford Business School grad, and former General Foods executive, notes that T.S. Eliot spent a decade at Lloyd's Bank of London; and many other poets including James Dickey, A.R. Ammons, and Edmund Clarence Stedman navigated stints in business.

I've written in the past about how business leaders should be readers, but even those of us prone to read avidly often restrict ourselves to contemporary nonfiction or novels. By doing so, we overlook a genre that could be valuable to our personal and professional development: poetry. Here's why we shouldn't.

For one, poetry teaches us to wrestle with and simplify complexity. Harman Industries founder Sidney Harman once told The New York Times, "I used to tell my senior staff to get me poets as managers. Poets are our original systems thinkers. They look at our most complex environments and they reduce the complexity to something they begin to understand." Emily Dickinson, for example, masterfully simplified complex topics with poems like "Because I could not stop for Death," and many poets are similarly adept. Business leaders live in multifaceted, dynamic environments. Their challenge is to take that chaos and make it meaningful and understandable. Reading and writing poetry can exercise that capacity, improving one's ability to better conceptualize the world and communicate it — through presentations or writing — to others.

Poetry can also help users develop a more acute sense of empathy. In the poem "Celestial Music,"for example, Louise Glück explores her feelings on heaven and mortality by seeing the issue through the eyes of a friend, and many poets focus intensely on understanding the people around them. In January of 2006, the Poetry Foundation released a landmark study, "Poetry in America,"outlining trends in reading poetry and characteristics of poetry readers. The number one thematic benefit poetry users cited was "understanding" — of the world, the self, and others. They were even found to be more sociable than their non-poetry-using counterparts. And bevies of new research show that reading fiction and poetry more broadly develops empathy. Raymond Mar, for example, has conducted studies showing fiction reading is essential to developing empathy in young children (PDF) and empathy and theory of mind in adults (PDF). The program in Medical Humanities & Arts (PDF) even included poetry in their curriculum as a way of enhancing empathy and compassion in doctors, and the intense empathy developed by so many poets is a skill essential to those who occupy executive suites and regularly need to understand the feelings and motivations of board members, colleagues, customers, suppliers, community members, and employees.

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"As [I rose] in business ... I felt I had an enormous advantage over my colleagues because I had a background in imagination, in language and in literature."

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Reading and writing poetry also develops creativity. In an interview with Knowledge@Wharton, the aforementioned Dana Gioia says, "As [I rose] in business ... I felt I had an enormous advantage over my colleagues because I had a background in imagination, in language and in literature." Noting that the Greek root for poetry means "maker," Dana emphasizes that senior executives need not just quantitative skills but "qualitative and creative" skills and "creative judgment," and feels reading and writing poetry is a route to developing those capabilities. Indeed, poetry may be an even better tool for developing creativity than conventional fiction. Clare Morgan, in her book What Poetry Brings to Business, cites a study showing that poems caused readers to generate nearly twice as many alternative meanings as "stories," and poetry readers further developed greater "self-monitoring" strategies that enhanced the efficacy of their thinking processes. These creative capabilities can help executives keep their organizations entrepreneurial, draw imaginative solutions, and navigate disruptive environments where data alone are insufficient to make progress.

Finally, poetry can teach us to infuse life with beauty and meaning. A challenge in modern management can be to keep ourselves and our colleagues invested with wonder and purpose. AsSimon Sinek and others have documented, the best companies and people never lose a sense of why they do what they do. Neither do poets. In her Nobel lecture "The Poet and the World," Wislawa Szymborska writes:

The world — whatever we might think when terrified by its vastness and our own impotence ... is astonishing ...

Granted, in daily speech, where we don't stop to consider every word, we all use phrases like "the ordinary world," "ordinary life," "the ordinary course of events" ... But in the language of poetry, where every word is weighed, nothing is usual or normal. Not a single stone and not a single cloud above it. Not a single day and not a single night after it. And above all, not a single existence, not anyone's existence in this world.

What if we professionals cultivated a similar outlook? We might find our colleagues more hopeful and purposeful and our work revitalized with more surprise, meaning, and beauty.

Poetry isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to every business problem. There are plenty of business leaders who've never read poetry and have been wholly successful. But to those open to it, reading and writing poetry can be a valuable component of leadership development.

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Wednesday Wisdom (or Wit) from Heartland

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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Innovation Anyone? 
The word innovation derives from the Latin word innovates, which is the noun form of innovare "to renew or change," stemming from in—"into" + novus—"new". 

Heartland programs are often considered an innovation or imagination super-boost. 

How are you allowing time for your imagination and innate innovation to emerge?

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.
Albert Einstein

Going forward, we are convinced, the world increasingly will be divided between high imagination-enabling countries, which encourage and enable the imagination and extras of their people, and low imagination-enabling countries, which suppress or simply fail to develop their people’s creative capacities and abilities to spark new ideas, start up new industries and nurture the own “extra.”  America has been the world’s leading high imagination-enabling country and now it needs to become hyper-high-imagination-enabling society.  
That Used to Be Us by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum, 2011

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"US employers rate creativity/innovation among the top five skill that will increase in importance over."

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that next five years, and stimulating innovation/creativity and enabling entrepreneurship is among the top 10 challenges of U.S. CEO’s.
Ready to Innovate New York: Conference Board, 2008

Increasingly in the twenty-first century, what you know is far less important than what you can do with what you know.  The interest in and ability to create new knowledge to solve new problems is the single most important skill that all students must master today.  All successful innovators have mastered the ability to learn on their own “in the moment” and then apply that knowledge in new ways.
Creating Innovators by Tony Wagner, 2012

This is our generations Sputnik moment…We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially in clean energy technology –an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people…In America, innovation doesn’t just change our lives, it’s how we make a living.  We need to outinnovate, outeducate and outbuild the rest of the world.
2011 State of the Union Address, President Obama

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Wednesday Wisdom (or Wit) from Heartland

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

A friend sent this link not long ago. It's a light touch to a serious subject.

Follow the Frog

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You don't have to go to the ends of the Earth to save the rainforest. Just Follow the Frog! The Rainforest Alliance is a nonprofit conservation organization that holds Charity Navigator's highest rating of Four Stars.

What's behind the green frog seal? Only farms that meet rigorous sustainability criteria earn the right to use the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal. These criteria address all of the three pillars of sustainability -- environmental protection, social equity and economic viability -- and farms are evaluated by independent, third-party auditors. Learn more about Rainforest Alliance Certificationand its impacts.

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Wednesday Wisdom (or Wit) from Heartland

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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There are many ways to consider beginning a new year. The article below offers creative and generative ideas to consider.

5 Ways to Begin Designing Your Life in 2013

TIM BROWN, CEO at IDEO

Great designers don’t just do design, they live design. Like them, we can learn how to practice design thinking principles both at work and at home.

As you start designing your life in 2013, here are five ways to begin:

1. Be optimistic, collaborative, and generative.

There’s something wonderfully gratifying about creating something new, whether it’s an award-winning design or a home-cooked meal.

2. Think of life as a prototype.

Conduct experiments, make discoveries, change as needed. Any process can be re-examined and tweaked. Look for opportunities to turn a process into a project with a tangible outcome. 

3. Don't ask "what?" ask "why?"

Instead of accepting a given constraint, ask whether this is the right problem to be solving.

4. Demand divergent options.

Don’t settle for the first good idea that comes to mind or seize on the first promising solution presented to you. Explore divergent options—and then set a deadline so you know when to move on.

5. Once a day, deeply observe the ordinary.

Make it a rule that at least once a day you will stop and take a second look at some ordinary situation that you would normally look at only once (or not at all). Get out in the world and be inspired by people.

Happy designing!

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A Community of Pioneers creating a Global Renaissance

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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The AoC Grad community is a worldwide web of individuals and organizations actively creating a global renaissance of thought, heart and behavior.

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NEW Certification Training Program November 8-11 -- 3-1/2 Day Residential Training + Virtual Convening Training via Cohort Calls

This new Training is a direct result of years of conversations with AoC grads seeking an in-person practicum that brings together all the accumulated learnings from the 45 Core and Advanced Trainings. Craig will be assisted by 2 or more Advanced Grads. 10% discount for AoC Graduates

Guided by Craig Neal, originator of 'The Art of Convening'

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The Certification at a Glance

Thursday-Sunday 3-1/2 day Residential Training Program, Virtual Training Cohort Calls:

• Thursday 5:00 pm to Sunday 3:00 pm
• Pre-Training Orientation Call
• Two 1:1 Coaching Calls with Craig Neal
• Four 90-minute Maestro Conference calls
• Experience a highly interactive and dynamic learning environment in-person, andvirtually utilizing innovative MaestroConference technology
• Session Audio Recordings
• Pre- and Post- Assessments
• Private Online Learning Platform
• Eco e-learning workbook
• Certificate as an AoC Certified Convener
• Limited to 20 Participants
• All graduates will be listed on Heartland's website as resource providers and catalysts for transformation (if you choose)
• International Coaching Federation CCEUs (applied for)   
• Course Book:The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations, Craig and Patricia Neal, with Cynthia Wold (book included in cost of training)

Format & Benefits

• Be part of an intimate in-person and virtual learning Cohort format- limited to 20 participants.
• Thoroughly review and embody the theory, principles, and practices in the The Art of Convening book as the primary text for the Training.
• This is a Practicum with emphasis on sharing actual case studies from your life and work environment. Your progress will be supported personally and online.
• Maximize personal and professional relevance by advancing interpersonal skills.
• Learn direct application to your work and life via course readings, focused journaling and reflection time, case studies, and exposure to guest graduate Conveners.
• Receive sample Workshop Templates.
• Belong to an engaged and inspired graduate community of intentional leaders.
• Utilize the Convening Wheel, beginning At the Heart of the Matter, all the way to Commitment to Action: discover and learn each Aspect with relevant Convening Principles, while also collectively exploring the distinct Challenges of successfully applying the AoC in professional and personal situations.

Schedule & Cost: learn more here

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CERTIFICATION TRAINING:

Residential Training: November 8-11

Location: Riverwood Inn and Conference Center, Otsego, MN 

Virtual Training Cohort Calls:

•  Pre-Training Orientation        
•  Two 1:1 Coaching Calls with Craig   
•  Four 90-minute Cohort Calls via MaestroConference

10% discount for AoC Graduates of any course

Investment

Thursday: reception and dinner

Friday: 3 meals and break snacks

Saturday: 3 meals and break snacks

Sunday: brunch

all course materials, The Art of Convening book

 Rate:

•  $2495 double occupancy
•  $2695 single room   

A $750 deposit holds your place and rate

Payment plans and limited Scholarships available: contact registration@heartlandcircle.com

learn more here

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Craig and Nils: The AoC Book Launch in Denmark

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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Mødekunst: Meeting Art

The Art of Convening book launch in Denmark

24-27 september

Trip agenda:

click here

Craig has arrived in Denmark and is staying with friends and colleagues Nils and Annelise Stahlschmidt.

Thank you to the Danish Pionerer Group and to Gyldendal ASA for making this happen!

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Authentic online conversations- what I learned

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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Patricia and I were recently at our publisher's 20th anniversary event in San Francisco. There were several AoC Training grads here including Amy Lenzo, who set up online communications for the World Cafe' Global Community and Rose Singer, longtime AoC practitioner. Several of the authors have read AoC and are using the principles and practices in their consulting, coaching, and teaching.

What have I learned? It's all about relationships!! Everyone is yearning for, and seeking, authentic engagements. lots of talk about using social media and how to have sincere connection online. I'm currently in a workshop now lead by Amy on having authentic online conversations on social media like FaceBook, Twitter, Linkdin and on and on.....

What have you learned that you can share with other AoC Grads?

via heartlandcircle.blogs.com

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Listening and Understanding

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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"The more you listen, the more you will hear. The more you hear, the more and more deeply you will understand."

- Kyentse Rinpoche

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Mary Oliver- Morning Poem

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

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Morning Poem
 
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
 
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
 
and fasten themselves to the high branches ---
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
 
of summer lilies.

If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
 
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
 
the thorn
that is heavier than lead ---
if it's all you can do
to keep on trudging ---
 
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted ---
 
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
 
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
 

~ Mary Oliver ~

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Choose Love

Photo credit: craig neal

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Choose Love: What We Are Made Of 

Love is often presented as the opposite of fear, but true love is not opposite anything. True love is far more powerful than any negative emotions, as it is the environment in which all things arise. Negative emotions are like sharks swimming in the ocean of love. All things beautiful and fearful, ugly and kind, powerful and small, come into existence, do their thing, and disappear within the context of this great ocean. At the same time, they are made of the very love in which they swim and can never be separated. We are made of this love and live our whole lives at one with it, whether we know it or not. 

It is only the illusion that we are separate from this great love that causes us to believe that choosing anything other than love makes sense or is even possible. In the relative, dualistic world of positive and negative, darkness and light, male and female, we make choices and we learn from them. This is exactly what we are meant to be doing here on earth. Underlying these relative choices, though, is the choice to be conscious of what we are, which is love, or to be unconscious of it. 

When we choose to be conscious of it, we choose love. We will still exist in the relative reflex of opposites and choices and cause and effect, and we will need to make our way here, but doing so with an awareness that we are all made of this love will enable us to be more playful, more joyful, more loving and wise, as we make our way. Ultimately, the choices we make will shed light on the love that makes us all one, enabling those who have forgotten to return to the source. 

This world makes it easy to forget this great love, which is part of why we are here. We are here to remember and, when we forget to remember again, to choose love. 

Source: DailyOm

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