Forum on Leadership

Forum On Leadership

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Newman Center, NAU ~ Flagstaff Arizona

Notes By Laurent Weichberger

This is essentially what I shared as a panelist at this event.

I have met and/or spoken with the following people who have shaped (some more deeply than others) my feelings about "leadership" and what it means to be a healthy leader:

• Pope John Paul II (received communion from him at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC when I was young).
• Jimmy Page and his lovely wife Jimena (Led Zeplin guitarist, had coffee with them at the school our kids went to in Forest Row, England).
• Robert Redford (He came to my boss, Mrs. Irene Diamond, at our office and she said, "Come in here Bobby..." which helped me realize we are all just people).
• Senator John H. Glenn, Jr. (Went to the Democratic National Convention as an Editor with my "Children's Express" news reporters, and we interviewed him on the floor of the convention. He spoke more honestly to the pre-teen reporters than he did to the adults in the room, I noticed.
• Mr. (Fred) McFeely Rodgers (We also interviewed Mr. Rodgers at his Manhattan apartment. During the interview his character actor, the postman "Mr. McFeely," came home with his own set of keys and I had the feeling they might be lovers. This helped me realize that homosexuality is not as bad I thought it once was (I was in high school at this point). Also, I learned a valuable less when Mr. Rodgers stopped us during questioning to say he felt we were more interested in asking questions than in his answers. That was an honest and humbling experience.
• Vincent McGee, Jr. (Vinny was my boss for a number of years in Manhattan, at the Hunt Alternatives Fund and later the Aaron Diamond Foundation. I consider him to be one of my first mentors, a brilliant man with a giant sized heart.)
• Coleman Barks (His translations of Rumi have altered the landscape of American literature, and made Sufism a household word).
• Ralph Nader (We interviewed him before his ambition to become President. I felt he was honestly trying to expose corporate wrongdoing and bring awareness to important issues.)
• Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) (I was driving across America with my sister, and we stopped in New Mexico for lunch at what looked like a nice place, a bed & breakfast or something set back off the road in the middle of nowhere. There was only one other table having lunch, and that was New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and his aides. This was before his ambition to lead this country. He introduced himself and was warm and human.
• Gov. Janet Nepolitano (AZ) (My daughter wanted to meet the Governor in 2003, when she visited Flagstaff and held a reception at the Zane Grey Room downtown. We got permission to do so. Aspen, at age 8 said she had a question, and Ms. Nepolitano listened carefully: "Why do we have to be at war in Afghanistan and Iraq?" The Governor's answer is one of my all time favorites, as it showed to me that she is a real leader in the most honest sense of the word. She replied, "I don't know." Thank you.)

Sacred Places:

I have been on pilgrimage to various sacred sites around the world, including:

• Meher Baba's Samadhi at Meherabad, India

• St. Francis' Tomb at Assisi and Mount La Verna where he received stigmata

• St. Catherine's room at Siena, Italy

• Sacred spots throughout India for Buddhists, Jains, Hindus and Sufis.

Leadership issues:

What is not leadership?

• Fame/Media attention : Brittany Spears is famous, that doesn’t make her a leader. Is Oprah a leader? Is Angelina Jolie a leader because she is high profile at the United Nations as a "Goodwill ambassador"?
• Being persuasive/influential: Picasso was tremendously influential on many artists, does that mean he was a “leader”?
• Military/Organizational leaders : just because that is your title, or role, doesn’t mean you are a leader. Is every General in the Army really a leader?

Vital Qualities of leadership:

• Living according to right values (problem of subjective values).
• Honesty/Integrity : lives according to a strict code of conduct, doesn’t lie. Knows how to deal honestly with all. (Parking ticket story?)
• Accountability : Actions are accountable to the community (and world). (NYC corrupt cops story?)
• Leaders are concerned with the best interests of the community (or group) that they lead. Self-involved people are rarely leaders in the true sense of the word.
• Leaders want to achieve what is best for all concerned. What is best may not be popular. What is popular might not be best.
• Leaders think differently. Einstein said, "You cannot solve a problem with the same thinking that caused the problem.”
• Leaders are leaders whether they are “elected” or not. Most leaders were leaders regardless of how they were understood at that time by the masses, and whether they became “elected” is somewhat meaningless in retrospect. Being elected doesn’t make someone a leader, it is because they are a leader (we hope) that they were elected. Otherwise, it was most likely an act (resulting in nomination and election) and we feel disappointed when we come to know who they really are.
• Compassionate – Wise
• Healthy leaders have tolerance for societal differences (faith, race, sexuality).
• Knowledgeable – Experienced (“Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment”)
• Communicative – Knows how to speak plainly to be clearly understood, and to listen to supporters (cabinet), and The People.
• Willing to admit mistakes (Knows how to listen to detractors, and change).
• My daughter Aspen (age 12) said, "Leaders are loyal to their people." They don't betray trust.
• Surrounds themselves (core circle) with quality strong, clear people (not yes-people or blind-followers) rather those who can keep them on track.
• Intuitive – Perceptive : Not relying solely on data and information feeds.
• Loving – Kind : Non-aggressive (Preemptive Strike example?)
• Brave – Willing to take risks.
• Flexible/Open to feedback and can change course rapidly if needed. Can re-evaluate in the light of new information. Innovative.
• Contemplative - Not impulsive. Careful about making promises, sure to fulfill them.
• Not slow to act when urgency needed.
• Able to punish, meet out Justice: Big Corporate pollution from companies that pay multimillion $ fines and penalties, rather than change their behavior, because it is cheaper for them (and easier) to do so.
• Willing to Forgive.
• Willing to Defend – Protect (protect the group, and those weaker).
• Able to maintain vital partnerships – alliances. (Foreign Policy)
• Unity vs. Oneness : Unity underlies duality (us united against them), Oneness overcomes duality (God is in all beings)
• Able to have both short term vision and long term vision
• Personal Character: Is the character we see and hear really core to their being or is it essentially a careful act, scripted by their advisors? Elected leaders seem to pretend a lot, as if this is all a game.

A few historical examples of high quality leaders:

• Joseph the son of Jacob (circa 1500 B.C.E.) : Firstborn son of Rachel, and 11^th son of Jacob the patriarch, sold as a slave into Egypt by his brothers only to emerge as an Egyptian Leader who later gives a home to the Jews during the great  famine, which generations later leads to their bondage at the hands of a mean Pharaoh. The power of Dreams.

• Moses (circa 1300 B.C.E) : Paradoxically Moses, born a Jew, was raised by the Pharaoh's family and becomes a prince. Renouncing his title, he flees to the countryside and lives as a shepherd until called by God to free the Jews from Egyptian bondage. Received the 10 commandments from God on Mt. Sinai. The Power of God.

• Lord Rama – Prince in Exile who becomes King through deep humility and victorious war against “demons.” The power of Action.

• Mahatma Ghandi – Lawyer who leads India to independence through non-violent resistance. The power of Non-violence.

• Lady Mirabai (1498 – 1547 C.E.) – Hindu Princess of Rajastan, she abdicates the royal throne to live as a poet and lover of God, singing original bhajans to Lord Krishna. The power of Love.

• Lord Buddha – Prince who abandons the royal life and his wife and child to find Truth. The power of Surrender.

• The 14^th Dalai (“Ocean”) Lama (“Guru” or teacher) : “Yeshe Norbu” or Wishfulfilling Jewel. Ordinary child chosen in 1935 by Tibetan Buddhist monks as reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. Exiled since 1959 and living in Dharmsala in Himachal Pradesh, India. Now world leader, inspiring millions by living and expressing his values. The power of Karma.

• Archangel Michael (timeless) : Leader of the Archangels, known by many titles including “Prince of the Presence” he is looked upon by many faiths as head of the angels. The power of Hierarchy.

• Lord Jesus – Jew who leads non-violent resistance to Roman Empire. Now headquarters of Catholics is in Rome. The power of Humility.

• St. Francis of Assisi – Wealthy son of merchant family abandons wealth for Lady Poverty. Becomes leader of thriving monastic order, and Spiritual Master, first to receive stigmata. The power of poverty.

• St. Catherine of Siena – 24^th child of religious family in Italy, has early mystical experiences of Jesus, and through obedience to Him becomes “Doctor of the Church” and exerts her influence on the pope through letter writing. The power of obedience.

• Queen Elizabeth I of England, unites England by creating the Church of England in the face of incredible odds, and ushers in decades of peace and prosperity, the Golden Age, for England. The power of innovation.

• Prophet Mohammed – Arab from ordinary family has early mystical experiences of Archangel Gabriel in cave and successfully communicates the messages he receives to a steadily growing group of disciples, in the face of incredible opposition, and repeated attempts to kill him. Unites Arabian Peninsula during his lifetime by means of war. The power of revelation.

• Jelaluddin Rumi (1207 – 1273 C.E.) – Muslim Poet and Spiritual Master, founds mystical order of “dervishes” in Turkey, and his poetry travels hundreds of years from East to West to make him the most loved poet in America in 2007. The power of poetry.

• Sir William Wallace (1272? – 1305) – Scottish hero lead the violent resistance against King Edward I of England. The power of revolution.

• Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937) : First woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean (1928) and the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic (1932). Attempted around the world flight but was lost in 1937 in that attempt. The power of courage.

• Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005) : In December 1955, in Alabama, she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus. Started the bus boycott and helped launch Martin Luther King, Jr. The power of dignity.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968) : Leader of the “Southern Christian Leadership Conference.” A Baptist Preacher inspired by Ghandi’s non-violent resistance overcomes fierce hatred and prejudice to bring civil rights to African Americans. Won Nobel Peace prize in 1964. Assassinated at age 38. The power of communication.

• Nelson Mandela (b. 1918 – still alive) : Anti-apartheid activist, imprisoned for 27 years. Freed in 1990 by then State President F.W. deKlerk. Mandela won Nobel Peace prize in 1993. Became President of South Africa (1994-1999). The power of freedom.

• Marian Wright Edelman (b. 1939 – still alive): President and Founder of the Children's Defense Fund a child advocacy group and "the nation's strongest voice for children and families." Worked with Dr. King to form the "Poor People's Campaign" in 1968 with direct support from Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY). Won the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2000). See www.childrensdefense.org. The Power of Children.