Tag: leadership

Recommended Reading: In search of kindness by Richard Branson

Carl Setzer
Richard Branson and Eve

Richard Branson is a leader I’ve looked up to for years. And his recent blog post adds to that:

In search of kindness – Richard Branson

I deeply value the idea of “look for the best in people”. And how that leads into “…embrace failure as essential to our journey…”. If you want people to push boundaries, to innovate, you need to accept that failure will come of it. Build processes that maximize the learnings from that. Then move on.

One idea I’ve held for years is simply “it’s more powerful to build people up than to tear them down”. This mindset doesn’t seem to be highly valued right now, but I think that it holds true. And it is how I lead.

Early morning thoughts

Carl Setzer

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.