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”
I last stayed with Uncle George and Aunty Joan about 40 years ago. They were dairy farmers. I think that they had about 150 cows and the images of the milking shed at 5.00 am have stayed with me since then. I see Uncle George and his cows when I pass a dairy farm even now. The warm unprocessed milk with porridge at 7 or 8. The implement shed. The raging bull that we chased on the other side of the fence. Driving for the first time as he put the hay out, across the paddock with the accelerator on the Bedford truck stuck on what felt like breakneck speed. Rapidly (to my eyes!) approaching a narrow bridge between paddocks. The big arm leaning in to check the steering You’re fine, just keep it dead ahead. Dead I thought, yes, if the bridge doesn’t widen up real soon!
Running into Mum and Dad in Farmers on a trip to the city. I need to go to the loo. Uncle George corrected you mean lavatory. Such responsibility to my care, even in the face of my parents! Funny how at the tender age of 5 I could sense my parents discomfort.
He died this week, aged 96. He had strong beliefs that he will join Aunty Joan. And probably Daisy. One of those 150 cows he knew by name. The only name I remember, but he had them all off-pat as they walked to the dairy. Remarkable.
He let me learn by trusting me and letting me have a go. Thanks Uncle George.
Stephen
Jonathan Ling, managing director and chief executive officer of Fletcher Building spoke on Friday. He was asked by our leadership coach Jasbindar Singh “What makes a great leader?”
Modestly, he said he could only talk about business leadership. Three things:
Fletcher Building is a stunning success in business and has a great reputation for leadership, both as a commercial enterprise and as a place that grows leaders. Jonathan spoke of empowering business general managers so that decisions are made as close to the customer as possible.
The other side of this is that the core head office is 12 people. That’s New Zealand’s largest listed company. That’s leadership.
Thanks to TransTasman Business Circle for making it possible for us to co-partner this outstanding event on Friday along with Colliers International and Vodafone. The team from the Centre for Innovative Leadership felt very proud to be in such good company.
Stephen
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
Stephen Drain's Leadership Blog 