Putting Our Differences to Work by Debbe Kennedy

WISDOM: Connecting Across Time and Difference

Sometimes I think we all take so much for granted. Our busy lives keep us from recognizing one another in any real meaningful way -- and from taking time to learn from one another's wisdom. Sages and thought-leaders, past and present, give us clues that all of life across time is connected -- there is a different bent to our pressing problems in different eras of time, but there is also a sameness about our struggles and also our potential. Wisdom comes from unique perspectives and many dimensions of difference. It challenges us to see our important call to contribute to our organizations, community, and our world for the good of all.

I was again reminded of this today. Among my father's treasures after he died, I found a book of sermons from Peter Marshall, former Chaplain to the U.S. Senate back in the 1940s. Peter Marshall's wisdom reads with an amazing familiarity to where we are today:

"...The time for drifting or sleeping or wishful thinking or daydreaming is over. The state of our world today makes this pastime. This generation of young people and all of you who are sensitive to what is going on around you, are called to a supreme adventure.

There is a great stirring in society. The upheavals of life and the revolutions of multitudes across the world in desperate motion are indications that our world can never be the same again. So don't ever underestimate what you can do. You have the courage to cast off your acrophobia [fear of open space] and to dream big and to aim high..."

How do we tap into the wisdom that connects us across time and distance?
How do we begin a meaningful conversation and allow it to move us into action?

Dr. Alex Pattakos, author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts, shared this perspective in a recent writing on his blog: "...authentic dialogue enables individuals to acknowledge that they each are part of a greater whole, that they naturally resonate with others within this whole, and that the whole is, indeed, greater than the sum of its various parts. ...One must be open and willing to entertain a diversity of thought and discover a common ground by going to a higher ground.  And, to be sure, this is extremely difficult, if not seemingly impossible, for most of us to do, especially when the “stakes” are high."

What messages do you hear across time and difference calling us from your perspective in the world?

Best...

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
author, Putting Our Differences to Work

new book!
Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance
by Debbe Kennedy ▪ Berrett-Koehler ▪ May 2008 – Hardcover
PRE-ORDER a copy at AMAZON.COM

Foreword by Joel A. Barker, futurist, filmmaker and author
Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future

YOU'RE INVITED...
Join me for online live conversation to discuss your organizational issues at my
Putting Our Differences to Work CENTER FOR DIALOGUE

LEADERSHIP: The Power of Building Trust

One of my leadership role models in the distance is Kazuo Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation in Japan. In one of his book, For People and For Profit: A Business Philosophy for the 21st Century, he wrote about what he called "elevating your mental dimension." His belief and example align with the Five Distinctive Qualities of Leadership I introduce in my book, Putting Our Differences to Work, especially those about people, personal responsibility, and striving to live by the value of mutualism. He wrote:

"When Kyocera was first started, we had neither money nor equipment. In the midst of this I determined to base my management of the company on the human spirit.  The human spirit is changeable, but once bound by trust, there is no stronger bond in the world. By feeling mutual trust while working alongside our colleagues, we can overcome any difficulty.

I worked hard to be a leader my employees could depend on. In order that my employees and I could become trusted friends, at every opportunity I got I said I wanted them to lift up their hearts a little. In this way, the entire company staff, including myself, worked hard to elevate our mental dimension, and I believe that our complete involvement in our work brought about success of the Kyocera group."

In recent years, we have lost this kind of consciousness in many businesses and organizations. It will be essential for leaders of the future to incorporate the human dimension of leadership into their primary portfolio of leadership skills.

How do yours stack up?

YOU'RE INVITED...
Join me for online live conversation to discuss your organizational issues at my
Putting Our Differences to Work DIALOGUE CENTER.

Best...

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
author, Putting Our Differences to Work

new book!
Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance
by Debbe Kennedy ▪ Berrett-Koehler ▪ May 2008 – Hardcover
PRE-ORDER a copy at AMAZON.COM

Foreword by Joel A. Barker, futurist, filmmaker and author
Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future