On Thursday I was driving to work on Puhinui Road, Manukau. A young woman was tailgating me and when I stopped at a pedestrian crossing behind another vehicle, she didn’t. Well, actually she did by driving into the back of my car. I felt like I was in one of those slow-motion TV adverts for car safety as my head was pushed forward and then lashed back with considerable force into the head restraint.
It hurt and gave me Continue reading “A strange impact”
With three days remaining until the Rotorua Marathon all the anxieties and sore bits of my body suddenly appear as if by design, in that last week when very little running is actually done, prior to the big day. The best thing to do in the last week is, well, not much at all. Turn the legs over a couple of times for 30 or 40 minutes my coach and running colleagues all confirm.
Someone told me recently that the paradox of authentic leadership – being yourself and being there for others – can actually be more demanding than the command and control manager. It seems that authenticity is for me, a place I’m in my groove and it’s not that hard. But the demanding bit can sometimes be being there for everyone else. In fact, th
e whole scenario is a bit of a paradox isn’t it: I’m authentic, but I need to be there for you, even if that’s not me at that moment. More energy is exerted by the authentic leader because he or she genuinely walks in others shoes to nuture, grow and develop them.
Leadership is not for everyone and everyone is not fit for leadership. But if you’re going to do it, I reckon you better get yourself resilient to look after your team and supporters by being physically fit. For me that’s running (did you guess?!) and some days, like today when I went for that last 30 minute run, it not only formed part of an overall training regime, it gave me the headspace to sort out a few things and come back refreshed. Ask my PA Raewyn. She’ll confirm it I’m sure!
We have a special resilience session on our AUTCIL Authentic Leadership Course – and it’s got a special new component on this upcoming course (can’t say or it would spoil the surprise). It’s important stuff for authentic leaders.
As leaders you’re got to be fit, otherwise it won’t be a good fit.
As for Saturday, can’t wait.
When I thought that about the concept of an authentic leadership course last year I had a feeling that other people would eventually grow this concept and what it means. This week on the AUT Authentic Leadership Course, we have been very encouraged by the growth in understanding that all those we interacted with have taken from our authenticity.
“There’s no artificial stress”
“This course has a strong authentic identity”
“How does the strategy you are proposing relate to the organisation’s authentic purpose?”
“Everyone here is being themselves. It’s refreshing”
is a sample of some comments as the participants and others have interacted in the week-long journey. Reflecting at the end of this course I am struck by the deep desire in us all to lose the artificial constructs we put up in our work and home life so we can just be ourselves. One self. One authentic self.
I love it when participants and others comment that we role-model the authenticity. Actually it’s not that hard. We’re not pretending. It’s authentic.
Authentically Authentic. Go for it!
Stephen
If you’re born on the 13th every now and again you’ll have a birthday on Friday 13th – infamous because of the Pope’s order to kill the Knights Templar (nothing to do with black cats actually!). I am sure Mum was happy to have me on the 13th – probably happy just to have me out! I don’t remember the start now, but I’ve learned to be happy, including when it’s 13.
I headed off yesterday afternoon on a run from Titirangi shops through Exhibition Drive, Pipeline track to the Arataki Visitors Centre. Cruising through Exhibition Drive (flat!) my GPS watch told me I was sitting on 5.25 min/km. Okay I thought, not bad, could improve but let’s see how we go. The Waitakere forest is beautiful. Summer, Winter, sunny, rainy, misty it’s perfect I reckon.
But today was sunny and hot. As I rounded the 7k mark deep into the forest, the GPS reports suddenly deteriorated and the average approached 6. My legs pumping I began the climb to the visitors centre through the new section of the Hillary Trail. It’s steep, windy and an ideal blowout for me prior to our Authentic Leadership Course today. But when you’re happy the hills are fine – and the run feels all the better for it.
Passing back into Titirangi, the GPS told me I’d done a little over 13km – 5.51 average. Needs to improve but the legs have had a workout.
13. We’ll start off cruising and happy today with our new cohort and we’ll do some uphill. It will be happy and rich with life like the forest. Welcome everyone, it’s going to be a great week. We’re ready. Let our reflection begin.
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