Tag: leadership

Early morning thoughts

Carl SetzerLeave a comment

I’m wondering at what my path forward looks like. I love technology, in all it’s variety, and blended in insanity. Yet I adore people, too. Helping guide folks, especially in terms of projects. Helping organize people into effective teams, to see the value each of us offer, and to feel the wonderful sensation of meeting goals. That’s delightful to me.

I’ve been told many times over the years that I’d be great as a manager. I wonder, though, as my values don’t align with the current “presentation” of the successful manager. I stand against the idea of people/teams simply being consumables to extract the most value from before they’re discarded.

So, I sit and ponder when I should be sleeping. It is the Way, I guess.

Inspirational, Aspirational & Grounded 

Carl Setzer

Ah, meetings! This evening’s have me some ideas about leadership. 

We’re tasked with coming up with a plan to implement a new vision, which is in process. It’s an awkward place to find oneself. Trying to continue forward motion while leaving room for the input of others. I guess we’re in that proverbial “build the plane while flying it” place. 

In this place, while considering such things as agile methodologies and such things, I was struck about a key element of leadership. Keeping disparate mindsets working together. Especially when they strongly disagree. Then I came up with the line in the subject: inspirational, aspirational and grounded. 

Inspirational: having a focus on something bigger, moving towards something greater than the sum. And the ensuing excitement. Creating and sustaining that energy. 

Aspirational: doing something new, stretching, growing, moving towards greatness. 

Grounded: that feeling that this is something that can really be done. Non-vaporware. 

These elements are critical for creating and sustaining projects. The function of leadership, in my not so humble opinion. Navigating thorough the wilderness, creating the new and wonderful. That’s what delights me. And, so, these need to be parts of my life.