7 Questions, a Drawing and a Prayer for Leaders

I recently had the honor of facilitating a leading edge cafe discussion table at the Barrett Values Centre International Conference. Our table topic was our personal leading edge for level 7 values. If you are not familiar with the Barrett values model, level 7 represents the highest spiritual values of humanity; such things as wisdom, ease with uncertainty, ethics and future generations. My task was to distill 3 major themes that came out of our discussions. Well, spirit cannot be contained nor neatly summed up, so instead we offered our fellow conference attendees 7 questions, a drawing and a prayer.

The drawing was the work of Tom Boardman, a wonderful leader and the former CEO of Nedbank South Africa. Tom turned the Barrett model in on itself, offering a spiral rather than the traditional hierarchy of levels, noting that all value levels are present at all times and a true leader knows how to seamlessly shift to what is present and needed in the moment. Below are the seven questions and the prayer.

• Who am I?
• Where do I stand?
• Can I express in fearless humility the beauty, peace and love I wish to be and truly am?
• Can I mirror the wisdom of All-That-Is back to itself?
• How do I call to and inspire my fellow beings to their highest self?
• How do I learn and listen to reveal what is next?
• Can I play in the spiral of consciousness to serve the planet, humanity and future generations?

The level 7 leaders prayer:
May the pain of playing small
inspire me to fearlessly express
who I really am
To boldly proclaim
This is where I stand
and to humbly ask
How may I serve?

Embracing Ease With Uncertainty

I was talking to a friend and mentor today who was frustrated with the upheaval in our economy and how nothing seems to be working the way it used to. Business deals seem to take longer to come to fruition and opportunities can seem to fade away as fast as they appeared. Nothing seems stable and everything seems harder than it used to be.

There is mounting evidence that the institutions we have come to rely upon are crumbling as humanity undergoes a consciousness evolution unlike any that has come before. For business, this is the shift from a sole focus on profits to a focus that recognizes profits really flow from a focus on higher values that include people, the planet and our shared purpose. Put another way, this is a shift from a consciousness of power to a consciousness of ethics.

This is a radical shift, one that is very difficult for those of us raised in cultures that celebrate personal achievement where winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. There is good news in all of this. Companies that are early adopters of this shift have produced consistently superior results. For example, the LAMP index, created by investment advisor and author Jay Bragdon (Profit for Life), is rigorously screened to include companies that operate with integrity (where the means align with ends), value their employees, and follow the principles of nature. Over the past decade, Global LAMP Index companies returned 98.03 percent, while other benchmark companies collectively lost money.

As we collectively learn how to operate in this new environment, I personally find it helpful to cultivate "ease with uncertainty" as a personal value. There is no evidence that things are ever going to "return to normal" - to a place of comfort and security that we imagined we held in our past. The pace of change and globalization is not going to slow down. We must evolve and adapt because our world is evolving and adapting all around us. A shift in our thinking is required to match the pace of this evolution. As leaders, we must model that shift and I know of no better way than to express ease with uncertainty. As our institutions continue to crumble around us, we can be alert to the new opportunites that flow from this global shift in consciouness. It is through our ease with uncertainty that we are likely to find our own best path forward.

For an excellent article further clarifying this shift, see: "The Evolutionary Imperative for Business".

Finding Your Juice

One of the keys to success in life is finding and living your passion. That can be tough in an adult world filled with constant change and uncertainty. But sometimes, we can rediscover our passion from the example of a little kid. Check out this 3 minute YouTube video and see if it helps you live your passion just a little bit more today.

If you want to live a life filled with passion everyday, you are well served to learn your specific purpose in life. Find out how here.

Have a passionate, purpose-filled day!

What Will be Your Legacy- part 2

After a couple of solid years of regular blogging, my posts have become infrequent due to a personal decision to take care of my sick mother. This was a full-time commitment that took up most of my time for nearly a year. I was able to continue my growth and learning during this time, and I am excited now to return to full-time pursuit of my dual missions:

1. To make the quadruple bottom-line of People, Planet, Profits and Purpose the common measure of business success.
and
2. To help leaders discover and express their deepest values, signature strengths and highest purpose.

I look forward to sharing inspiring ideas to co-create this world so badly in need of values-driven leaders who share this vision of business as an agent of world benefit.