9 Questions ... Week 1: Question 1 (day 1)

"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." ~ Desmond Tutu

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ~ Maya Angelou

Q1: How might we discover a sense of inspiration - individual and/or collective - and bring it to life?

Within inspiration, we would include such diverse sources as vision, mission, purpose, identity and intention.

How do we discover these things, as the foundations of personal and organizational leadership journeys?

How do we ground inspiration in history, create a vision for the future, and apply it in the contexts and containers of our current reality?

A few notes as we begin:

1. I'm thinking to offer a two parts to the Weekend offering of 9 Questions.
2. On Saturday, we'll introduce the leading question, that is, the question that we will hold with us over the course of the week ahead.
3. On Sunday, we'll introduce a series of exercises that are intended to allow us to explore the specific question in some depth and breadth.
4. Each week, you are invited to explore these questions by joining in the discussion via the comments section, on your own, or in small groups either in-person or online.
5. At periodic points through the course, we might host an Open Office Hours for shared conversation and dialogue.
6. I'm open to your suggestions and recommendations; I'll respond to each individual and we'll make every attempt to be responsive to your requests.
7. Finally, in the end, this work of discernment and the process of accompanying others and inviting others to accompany us seems to me something that happens at "very-small-scale."

"Nothing ever happens in the world that does not happen first inside human hearts.“ —?Fulton J. Sheen

So, I'm happy to work at the level of a human heart.

For me, ... a few thoughts come to mind.

1. For a good period of time, I held what "inspired me" close and revealed it in small bursts looking for the reactions of others -- the opinions of others, the judgement of others. And then, I would withdraw what "inspired me" -- and in doing so, was less than who might be, and much less able to support others as they "lifted up and share their inspiration." Today, I'm seeking to be more courageous in sharing this inspiration and the activities and initiatives and my participation in and support of others in what "inspires them."
2. For a good period of time, I thought of "inspiration" as something more definite and defined rather than an idea whose exploration allows you to continue to see and have context and texture revealed -- to see what you had not (or I had not seen before). I see now that "what inspires" evolves; you're always searching for what resonates at your core -- and perhaps you never arrive; you're always searching.
3. For a good period of time, I was, perhaps, too absorbed in my own journey of what "inspires me" and less welcoming of the conversations with others to hold and create space for their exploration; this is changing because of the grace, patience, love and understanding of those around me -- known and unknown.
4. For a good period of time, I thought that this might be work that one did -- and completed; I now know that I was mistaken.
5. And finally, I will go back to Fulton Sheen's words which I found when I was in the 6th grade as a rummaged through a box of my father's college textbooks. Those words ring so true to me but I have rarely given myself over to them -- which I now commit to doing over the course of these 10 Weeks.

Thank you for inviting me to share this journey with you.

Much peace and joy.

Gerald

Saturday, 11 March 2022

Accompanying Resources for the 10 Week Course:

9 Questions for Leadership in Life and Work (you are welcome to download this book)

Resources for Question 1: Inspiration (you are welcome to download this book)

Linkedin (read an early reflection published on 29 June 2020 which reflected and drew inspiration from a quote by Maya Angelou)

• Question 1: How can I discover my personal inspiration and bring it to life?

"You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive."? ~ Maya Angelou

Weekend (re)Reading: two works by adrienne maree brown

• Emergent Strategy
• Three lessons: (1) Collaboration is the Cornerstone; (2) Embracing Change is non-Negotiable; (3) We Must Let go of the Status-quo (read more of this terrific review here)
• Holding Change

Tri Cosain: Weaving inspiration, learning and career

Gerald and Scott are co-founders of?Tri Cosain, a practice which weaves inspiration, learning and career coaching for leadership in life and work; they are the?co-authors of?9 Questions for Leadership in Life and Work,?Conversations of Inquiry?(a workbook and an invitation to explore),?Reflections on Careers?(an interactive workbook). All of these publications are freely available for you to download.

Their work embraces equity, inclusion, diversity, accessibility and well-being as foundations for personal leadership.

Gerald Doyle serves on the faculty of?Wolcott College Preparatory High School, provides Ministry Placement Research/Consulting for Career Formation Services at the?Catholic Theological Union, advises several edtech companies including?Upkey?and?GetSet?and works as a Higher Education Consultant at?TSI - Transforming Solutions, Inc.

Scott Downs, an Agile and Design Thinking Coach, calls forward great Agile delivery teams, with leaders in every chair.