Hosting Beginnings

I’m hosting today. It’s Day 1 of three days together. It’s a Leadership Development Program that will run for six months, concluding with another three days together in the Fall. I host this with my buddy Glen. Which means we bring some wisdom learned over the years (we’ve hosted a similar cohort three times before). And we bring some mischief too.

Hosting today means I’m giving particular attention to beginnings. It’s the shape — ours will be a Circle for the 24 participating. Hosting today also means trying to find a simple story, a narrative thread that can hold us through the days. For me, that thread is one of learning. What if, Leadership is learning? I’ll context that. Probably reference my Grandma Lena who was one of my first teachers this way. And I’ll nuance layers of learning, contexts of learning.

1. There is learning about each other. That’s learning to go well together. Learning to go as a group to do the things that groups can do (that individuals can’t). That’s styles. Preferences. Personalities.
2. There is the learning that is circumstance. These folk face many challenges. Some dreams too. I’ll be glad to use a social process to make some of that more visible.
3. There is learning that is about self. My buddy Glen brings a particular set other teachings on self-awareness. It’s a bit of growing the skill to see from the balcony, yet also begin able to see to the core of self.
4. There is the learning that is the bigger picture. We ought to connect what we do in the day to day with what we do in the bigger picture. Yup, strategy. Yup, even moreso that I love to bring to groups is values. And intentions. How we are unfolding together, evolving together (in our learning).

The weave of it all together ought to create a few unique openings. And more connection together. Let’s remember, that a foundational premise for many of us is health and joy in a system. That tends to lead to the good stuff.

All from a good beginning.

Here we go.