When I first set out to be a blogger, I wasn’t sure where to start. My head was exploding with writing material—lessons from being an educator, thoughts on books I had read, perspectives from my many years as a leader. When I began using the New England wall concept to organize my thoughts, everything came together. I discovered that the things I had learned could be organized into something that was functional and that I could share with others.
Preparing for a speaking gig in New Hampshire last fall, I began to realize that the actual process of forming and placing leadership stones was a powerful tool in and of itself and that I needed to share with others. It’s a simple concept, really—a way to bring form to what we learn in a way that makes it useful.
Here is the method, simply stated as a metaphor.
A New England wall is made up of stones recovered from land being prepared for planting. The recovered stones differ in shape and size, but when collected and arranged together, they become something that is purposeful: a wall that defines, contains, protects.
Years of reading, learning, working, and connecting with others have left me with a wealth of leadership ideas—stones for a metaphorical wall, if you will-- that I am excited to share with others. The process of gathering these ideas into a cohesive form in itself has been enriching in and of itself. Exploring how those experiences and pieces of information fit together (as I build my New England wall) keeps me growing as a leader. And as I add new stones, I sometimes find that I need to rearrange others to accommodate new learnings. My leadership wall is ever-changing and evidence of my own personal growth.
I am acutely aware that my colleagues and friends possess wisdom that needs to be shared. At the conference session I led last fall, I shared some examples of “stones” I had collected and asked the attendees to share some of their own. Nearly everyone participated, and without exception, their responses were thoughtful, creative, and diverse. I was in awe of the collective wisdom in that small room, and I walked away thinking that there was a need for this kind of sharing.
As any generation of leaders passes the torch to the next, there is a real need for opportunities to share our experiences and the things we have learned. I am writing this blog as a call to action for my fellow leaders to write down and share some of the leadership stones they have learned through the years.
This is an open invitation to share: What are your leadership stones? What stories can you tell—of great leadership examples that should be followed, as well as those where you’ve learned what not to do? Please email me your stories at dorinda@dorindarife.com and I will compile lessons learned and share them through my website. Aim for, say, no more than 500 words. I look forward to hearing and learning from you—and the opportunity to share your New England wall stones with our community.