Strategic or not? Behaviors of a Strategist
I spent the last month writing about the importance of having a destination and a road map. There’s more to be said. We all know that once we begin a journey we’re forced to confront the terrain ahead of us. Even the best road map can fail to get some people to the...
My Message for Millennials
“Life has always been hard, but many millennials are unequipped to deal with the particular ways in which it’s become hard for us.” These aren’t my words. They were written by Anne Helen Petersen in her recent BuzzFeed article “How Millennials Became the Burnout...
Dr. King’s Road Map to the Beloved Community
This week, most of us in this nation celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a variety of ways, many of which have become routine in our culture—from acts of service, to video tributes, and social media posts from professional athletes, celebrities, and...
Beyond the Destination: The Design Elements of an Effective Road Map
In an earlier post, I wrote that a leader’s role is to articulate a destination for others. I also cautioned leaders to be responsible and to bring a road map with them. Let’s talk about the design elements that constitute an effective road map—for yourself and for...
Why Every Leader Needs a Good Map
Way back in the day, when my parents wanted to take me and my sister on a road trip, they would call up the local AAA rep and request a road map. We’re talking late 1970s now—the days when the Afro pick held priority in the back pocket of my jeans and everyone cool...
He Ain’t Heavy….
“He ain’t heavy, Father… he’s m’ brother.” Growing up, my parents had a small wall plate in our home with these words on it. It made an impression on me as a young boy. I can’t say that I remember exactly how old I was when I first encountered that wall plate, but I...
Worth the Wait
Have you ever heard the story of the Neelakurinji? You should, because it’s a story with powerful metaphors for life. “Kurinji” is a flower and “neela” means “Blue”—loosely translated as the “Blue Flower.” The Neelakurinji is a rare flower that shares its...
Optimizing Intra-Agency Collaboration
There is a special cohort of leaders who are spread out across the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) Division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) who believe deeply in the power of intra-agency collaboration. FNCS oversees many programs...
Leadership Beyond the Bars
One of my favorite definitions of leadership casts it as an act of persuading others to think or to do things they would’t normally do on their own. I carried this notion of leadership with me last week when I delivered a workshop at the Annual Retreat of the...
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#Philanthropy was crucial in creating the blueprint for social progress in the 20th century. Today, we have an obligation to continue to listen and do better. Here's how—a vision for philanthropy in the new year. #FromGenerositytoJustice https://t.co/GfNJY3Egan (1/4)