Leadership in the News & Reflective Practice

In terms of leadership, this week has demonstrated the importance of it more than ever. Regardless of your political position, human beings on both sides are in an awful situation now because of leadership.

I want to be very mindful many of you may be worn out from the constant updates and to be honest, I am really fed up with the fear-mongering.

It is here, we have a situation, and I need more presence to what is, to what I need and to what is within my control. I have never needed more care in what information I absorb, what narratives I create, what othering I do and what ways I manage my?nervous system ?-?this is very important because a large part of our decisions come from unconscious automatic responses to beliefs and our nervous systems threat detector we aren't half as conscious as we think :)

Social Justice Lens

I also think it is essential to say we have a big race issue presenting at the borders, this is because wherever racism exists we have a hierarchy of value on human life and when there is a real threat, that will be seen so so clearly. I don't know the solution but I do know the more we acknowledge racism, especially those of us less or not affected by it, the closer we get to finding real solutions.

We are also seeing a lot online focused on gender arguments and utilising the current harmful situation to score points.

Remember social media is designed to give us more of what we like and agree with and then some things to create an extreme reaction that usually results in engagement. Let's not fall into that trap, we all have unconscious bias and a desire to be right, let us be curious about what proves us right.

FYI - the desire to be right and have answers is perfectly human and is often a way to cull anxiety - it is our way of supporting our nervous system because uncertainty is uncomfortable and can be dysregulating. The more uncertainty we experience, the more we may need/want to be right or have answers to feel safer. Self-regulation can provide us with a much better experience of relating in times of uncertainty.

A question Kelly Diels teaches in her Culture Makers programme is "Who does this narrative let off the hook?" and when we openly apply this question to situations, we can often see how ours/others' privilege or situations are letting mostly systemic norms off the hook and individuals who hold unhelpful norms in place. Remember PR is now one of the biggest weapons in war, it was in WW2, it has been over the past 2-4 years and it is now.

I also learned something uncomfortable about myself this week or should I say saw a blind spot I was aware of but not tuned into - I re-learned that the closer the threat to ME or something I feel a closeness to such as the location, people, topic, issue etc. the more I notice it and react to it but I have actively not engaged with previous/current wars because I didn't feel a closeness for lots of reasons, or I felt too misinformed to comment,?which Dr Muna Abdi brought to my attention with this tweet. ?I share this to bring some critical self-reflection to us all.

Your leadership development task this week...

If you haven't copped it by now, central to my work with leaders is reflective practice, critical thinking and the ability to take aligned action. This sits so closely to us not othering and looking at our own less than desirable behaviours, our ability to make meaningful aligned changes and in doing so engaging in a better way as a person, partner, parent, team member and leader.

When we stop asking ourselves the tough questions, we are likely to hear things that make us feel better but not necessarily do better.

So this week I invite you to define/identify 3 values that will guide your leadership, your support and your decisions when in positions of power - in any room, formal or informal power. I would love to hear what three you have picked and if you reply I will come back with some further questions and considerations personally.

Warm regards,

Sile Walsh & the ELIS A. Team

If any of you are directly impacted by what is happening please let me know and let me know if/how I/we could help.

P.S

You can book a free leadership consultation with Sile Walsh?here .

A few updates

• I started watching "Inventing Anna" and I really appreciate the switch off from all the seriousness.
• My ethics application was approved the first time (which is a first in itself!) for this year's research focus; it is specifically focused on coaches who work in the area of Inclusive Leadership in Ireland or the UK. If this is you or someone you know please let them know I need participants!
• I have joined?TikTok ?and it is definitely my learning edge but thankfully Maria s going to manage it for me and help me as best possible not to make a fool of myself.
• I will be doing the bare minimum outside of client work this week and seeing it as a rejuvenation/rest week.

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