inspire! what great leaders do · inspire! what great leaders do the path to higher ground...
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Inspire! What Great Leaders Do The Path to Higher Ground Leadership Transforming People and Organizations
By Lance Secretan
Presented by: Renee Carriere
EADM 826.3 Drs. Bayles and Walker
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“Authenticity is the alignment of head, mouth, ear, and feet–thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing–consistently. This builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust,” Lance Secretan.
Lance H.K. Secretan was born in 1939. He is perhaps best known for his work in leadership theory and how to inspire teams. From 1967 to 1980 Mr. Secretan was the Managing Director of Manpower Limited, based in the United Kingdom. Between 1980 and 1985, he taught leadership at McMaster and York University in Canada. Since then he has worked as an author, consultant and leadership coach. His company, The Secretan Centre, is a consulting organization committed to changing the world by bringing greater spirituality and higher values to the workplace. Its cause is: To Change the World by Reawakening Spirit and Values in the Workplace.
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Chapter One – Change:
Thebook Inspire beginswithseveralcontemplativeprinciples.Iincludedfourcentralideasand
myowndefinitionssothatthereadermayquicklyfocusinontheunderpinningsofInspire!
1. Paradigm:yourphilosophicallifeframework.
2. Destiny:yourfuture.
3. Cause:Aprincipleyouholdhigh.
4. Calling:Thekindofworkyoushouldbedoing.
InthefirstchapterofthebookInspire,theauthorLanceSecretanlaysoutthefoundationof
whathecallsOldStoryLeadershipversusNewStoryLeadership.Secretanwritesthatweall
willbecalledupontobealeaderatsomepointinourlivesandthereforeweneedtochange
thewaywelead.Hesuggestswecreateourownauthenticparadigmandnotliveinaparadigm
thatwascreatedbyothers.Havingyourownparadigm,writingyourDestiny,Cause,and
CallingisthebasisofwhatLanceSecretancallsHigherGroundLeadership.ThetermHigher
GroundLeadershipbecomestheendpointofthebookandisastyleofleadershipgroundedin
beingauthenticandfromtheheart.HesayswhenothersfeelyouareauthenticinyourCause,
theyareinspiredtofollowyou.
Secretanposesthequestion:whattypeofleaderdoyouwanttobe?Hesaysyoucanbea
leaderthatisnottrustedandnooneiscommittedto.OryoucanbeaHigherGroundLeader
thatinspiresotherstofollow;youcanbeapeoplewhisperer.Hebelievesweneedthe
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qualitiesofaction,love,andcommitmenttoservingothersinordertocreateanewstoryof
leadershipforourselves.ThefollowingtableoutlineshiscomparisonsbetweenOldStory
LeadershipandNewStoryLeadership.
Old Story Leadership Is New Story Leadership Is
Being Doing
WithoutHeart
WithHeart
Unconscious Conscious
Controlled Liberated
Fearful
Loving
Unauthentic Authentic
Hesummarizesthatthewaytoinspiringleadershipistobeginbycreatingyourownparadigm
thatisauthenticandbasedinloveandthatthisiscriticaltocreatinganewstoryofleadership.
Hemaintainsthatchangeofanythingisdifficultandaskswhyischangesohard?Furtherinthe
chaptertheauthornotesseveralperceivedroadblockstochangeasfollows:
Changerequirescourage.
Creatinganewparadigmisintricate.
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Webelieveourwayistherightway.
Weareafraidtotakeactionortochallengethestatusquobecausewewanttofitin.
Wetalkaboutchangebutdonotactinauthenticways.
Wearealwayslookingtoeachothertoseewhowillleadorwhowillinitiateratherthan
beingthechange‐makers.
LanceSecretansuggestsweneednotbestuckintheOldStoryofLeadershipandinaparadigm
thatwascreatedbyothers.Hepointsoutthatwhenweembracechange,weinitiateactionto
findourpathwayfromourhearttoHigherGroundLeadership.“Wemustbethechangewe
wishtoseeintheworld,”MahatmaGandhi.
Chapter Two ‐ Difficulties in Changing: Thischapterremindsustobetheinspirerofpeoplenotofresults.Theauthorsaysthatwhen
leaderslovewhattheydoandarevalues‐basedpeoplewhopracticewhattheysay,that
followerswilldoeverythingtoseethattheirleaderssucceed.Secretanbelieveseachperson
mustdefinehisorherspirit.Onceindividualsunderstandwho
theyareandcreatetheirownparadigmtheywillbegintolead
fromlove.Hesaysthatgoingfromaninternalplaceofdepletion
toaplaceofabundancewillinspirefollowers.Leadingfroma
placeoffeartoleadingfromaplaceoflove,orashesays,
“Commonvalueswillencourage followshipandthatlovenotfearinspirespeopletofollowa
leader.”Hewondersareyoualeaderoftheoldoraleaderofthenew?
“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely,” Karen Kaiser Clark.
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Furthermore,henotesthatweyearnforacommunityofbelonging.Whetherthatcommunity
isof family,school,students,business,orcommunity itself.HigherGroundLeadershipmeans
buildingrelationships.Relationshipbuildingisfoundationalforahappylife.Therefore,Itisthe
attendingtorelationshipsthatSecretanbelieveswilllettheindividualtoliveingrace,serveand
honouroneanotheranditinspiresfollowers.
Chapters Three and Four ‐ Understanding and Writing Your Destiny Statement:
ThesechapterscentreontheauthorSecretan’sdiscussiononhowtobeginthepathtobeinga
HigherGroundLeader.TheauthorstatesthataHigherGroundLeadermustfirsthavean
intimaterelationshipwiththeirDestiny,theirCause,andtheirCallinginordertoleadfromtheir
heart.HesaysinordertobeatrustedandauthenticleaderonemustknowtheirDestiny,
Cause,andCalling.Henamesthesethreesoulpiecesasthecornerstonestoservingothersand
toHigherGroundLeadership.YourDestiny,Secretansays,isyourdivinepurposeandhewrites,
“HigherGroundLeadershipisthepracticeofinspiringothersbasedonyourauthentic
awarenessofyourDestiny.”
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Therefore,ifwetaketimetounderstandandwriteourDestiny,itwillhelpustocreateourown
paradigmandbeginourpathtochange.Heisfirminthatlifeisabouthavingthecourageto
makechange.Whenweunderstandourinnerselfonlythencanwebeaninspirationtoothers
andhavethemfollowusinourCause.Hebelievesonemusttakeactionandnotjusttalkabout
makingchange.ThefinalpartofChapterFourgivesconcreteexamplesofhowtothinkofand
writeyourownDestinystatement.“Itisnotinthestarstoholdourdestinybutinourselves.”
WilliamShakespeare.
Chapters Five and Six ‐ Naming Your Sacred Cause:
ThesechaptersdiscusswhyandhowittakescouragetonameyourCause.Secretansaysthat
choosingwhatyoustandforinlifetakescourageandtime.ThatwritingyourCauseispartofa
cycle.OnceyouunderstandyourpersonalDestiny,Cause,andCallingyouarethenontheroad
tobeinganauthenticleaderthatotherswillbeinspiredtofollow.Hewritesthatwewillall
leadinlife.Theauthorsays,“ServantLeadersaretheoneswelove,theoneswhoteachwith
love.Theyaretheoneswholistenandhonourusdeepwithintheirsouls.ServantLeadersare
thepeoplewhisperers.”Theauthorstressesthatwhenanindividualispassionateabouttheir
Causethatthepassionwillinviteotherstofollow.
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YourDestinydescribeswhyyouarehere.Causeishowyouwillbeinyourlifetoachieveyour
Destiny.Callingiswhatyouwilldo.HigherGroundLeadershipisawaytoserveothersthrough
courage,authenticity,truth,love,andinspiration.“YourCauseistakingyourdreamfromreality
totheimaginedfuture,”saystheauthorLanceSecretan.
LanceSecretanhighlightstheimportanceoftheconceptofsacredness.Heusesthiswordin
connectiontorelationshipsandbehaviours.Iseeitinconnectiontoplace.Weallhavea
sacredplacetogotointimesofchangeorturmoil.Thesacredplacemaybeunderthestairs,
atyourdesk,orsittingonyourspecialrocklookingupatthestars.Itisplacewegotowhenwe
needtofindsolace.Asacredplaceiswhereourheartis.Viewingplaces,ourwork,and
relationshipsassacredmustberecognized.Ifwebegintoseethesacrednessinrelationships
thenassociationsbetweenteachersandstudentsorparentsandchildrenmaybegintobemore
lovingandinspireotherstodoremarkablethings.Secretandirectsustobesacredinallthat
Higher Ground
Leadership
Calling
Cause
Destiny
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wedo.Hewrites,“Dedicateyourlifetotheserviceofothers.Valuetheirdreamsand
aspirationsandtheywilllaydowntheirlivesforyou.”Thisseemsaloftygoalbuttopractice
livinglifewithlovingactionsisattainable.
Chapter Seven ‐ A Calling:
Doesyourpathinlifehaveheart?Secretanoffersthattohaveheartforwhatyoudoisin
actualityyoufollowingyourCalling.Hesuggestsyouneedtoliveanauthenticlifeand
understandthatwhenyouserveothersyoucantransformyourworkintoyourCalling.When
youunderstandyourCalling,thelinesbetweenyourpersonallifeandworklifebecomeblurred.
Hewrites,thatdailypracticescanonlybeauthenticiffirstyouareinspiredandpassionate
aboutyourself.Hesaysthatonemustserveothersfromaplaceofabundanceratherthan
depletionorfromaplaceofloveratherthanfear.Heasksthatyoureflectonwhatitmeansto
liveanauthenticlife.
ACallingmustbeauthentic,fullofyourpassion,highlightyourtalentsandgiftsandberelevant
toyourcause.ACallingisthechemistrybetweenpassionandtalent.Thischapterposes
questionsforyoutoconsiderasyoudiscoveranddefineyourpassion,talentandcalling.
HowwillIusemypassionandgiftstoserveothers?
WhatdoIlovetodo?
HowdoIwanttofeelaboutwhatIdo?
DoIvalueworkordoesitjustpaythebills?
DoIlovemywork?
WhenamImosthappyinmylife?
WhatamIdoingwhenIamhappiest?
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HowcanIturnthoseactivitiesintomylifework?
Whatisholdingmeback?
HowcanIovercomethoseobstacles?
Takingtimetoanswertheabovequestionsleadsyoutoself‐discoveryandarealhonestyin
whatyouaredoing.Itisinspiringtofollowtheprocessoutlinedinthebookandpavestheway
forsomelovingchangesinyourlife.
Chapter Eight ‐ Writing Your Calling Statement:
Thischaptergivesexamplesofactualpeoples’Callingstatementsandhowtogoaboutcreating
yourownCallingStatement.
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LanceSecretandirectsthereadertothinkofactionverbsthatbestdescribeyourskillswhen
youareatyourverybestatworkandinlife.IchosephotographsthatbestdescribewhenIam
happiestandIfoundthismethodofself‐descriptionworkedforme.AsIselectedthe
photographsIfoundthatthephotosgavevoicetomyhappiestmoments.Theactionwordsof
living,action,andlovingcameeasiertomymindasIlookedatthephotos.Thiswasbetter
thanhavingmethinkaboutwritingoutmyCalling.Itwasthephotosthattoldthestoryofmy
Calling.
Thereisalsoachaptersectiononmeditationanditsimportancetoself‐reflection.Heargues
thatmeditationofferssomeindividualsamethodforindividualstocentrethemselvessothey
canfocusonself‐awareness.Meditationhenotesasbeingabletoteachsomehowtoletgoof
whatothersexpect.Itisawaytoexamineyourspiritualsideandtoaidyouinfindingyour
Calling.
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Chapters Nine and Ten ‐ Entwining Destiny, Cause, and Calling: Anindividual’sDestiny,CauseandCallingcannotbeseparated.Aconnectionbetweenone’s
CallingandCauseislivedoutinone’sDestiny.YourCausemustberootedinsomethingnoble
andofhigherpurposeandthisinturnwillinspirefollowerstounderstandhowtheircallingsfit
intoahigherpurposeandthefulfilmentoftheirdestiny.ACallingispassion‐based.Entwining
one’sdestiny,Cause,andCallingrequiresyoutoliveyourlifewithpurpose.Therefore,to
followyourDestinyistounderstandwhyyouarehere.TofollowyourCause,istouseyour
giftstoserveothers.ToobserveyourCallingisseeinghowtheworldwillbeabetterplace
throughyouractions.
Chapter Eleven ‐ Followers who Serve:
Chapterelevenoutlineswhatitmeanstohaveservingfollowers.Itstatesthatviolenceand
loveareoppositesandthatwhatwegiveasaleaderiswhatourfollowerswillgiveback.
Leaderswholeadwithlovewillhavefollowerswhowillservetheirleader.Whentheleaderis
theretoserveothers,andthefollowersareservingtheleader,thenatdifferenttimesweare
allleadingorfollowing.Thekeytoservantleadershipisboundintheideaofservingofothers.
Servantleadershipisbasedinthenotionthatloveinspireslovefromothers.Servingfollowers
believeintheirleadersandareacommittedcommunityoffamily.Thiscommunityoffamily
inspiresgrowth,development,health,safety,comfort,spiritandvalues.Thiscommunityof
familyissomethingthatweallseek.Thus,inspiringgreatleadersinspireservingfollowerswho
becomeourcommunityoffamily.
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Theauthorcontinuesinchapterelevenbyaskingthereader‐canyoubeakindleaderinstead
ofarightleader?Hegivesexamplesofhowtobeakindleaderthroughwhathedescribesas
sacredlistening.Hesaysthatsacredlisteningislisteningfromtheheart,notfromtheego.Itis
listeningfromthecoreandthatinspiresotherstobelieveinyourcause.
Lastly,SecretansaysthatHigherGroundLeadersmustunderstandtheircorevalues,andthen
developstrategiestopracticewhattheypreachbecauseactionsspeaklouderthanwords.
Chapters Twelve and Thirteen – Creating Environment:
ThesefinaltwochapterssumuptheimportanceofdefiningpersonalDestiny,Cause,and
Callingandaligningthemtogether.Next,hewritesthatwhenyouhavedefinedandaligned
yourself,arereadytoleadothersintofindingandmasteringtheirDestiny,Cause,andCalling.
Finally,SecretanoutlinesthesixprinciplesofHigherGroundLeadershipusingtheacronymof
CASTLE.
C is the courage to change.
A is for the commitment to authenticity.
S is to serve others.
T is for the truth and commitment to your Calling.
L is for the capacity to love in order to inspire others.
E is for you and all others to be effective in all aspects of life.
ThesesixprincipleshewritesserveasthetemplateforthosewhoseekouttheirpathtoHigher
GroundLeadership.
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Thelastpartofthischapterdiscussestheimportanceofcreatingabeautifulworkenvironment.
Itiswrittenthatinvestinginbeautymakesnourishesthesoul.Whenthesoulisnourished,the
worldwins.Concluding,Secretansummarizesthathavingaplaceofbeautyinspiresustoactin
lovingservice.Theauthorwritesthatcreatingabeautifulenvironmentencouragesinspired
followerswhointurninspiretheleader.Heremindsusthatwewillallleadatsometimeinour
lives.FollowshippertainstothosewhofollowHigherGroundLeaders.Lastly,HigherGround
Leadershipisservantleadershipanditincludes:thesharingofpower,thekeepingofpromises,
themodellingofsoulfulbehaviour,andseeingthesacrednessinallothers.
ThefollowingarehighlightsfromthebookInspire!
OldStoryLeadershipandNewStoryLeadership.
Bewillingtochange.
Anunderstandingofthesignificanceofwritingone’sDestiny,CauseandCalling.
Theimportanceoflivinganauthenticlife.
LeadingfromlovewillinspireotherstofollowyourCause.
HigherGroundLeadershiplanguageincludes:sacredness,divine,calling,joy,love,gifts,
servingothers.
Theimplicationofcreatingyourownparadigm.
Leadingfromtheheart.
AskinghowcanIserveothers?
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DefiningServantLeadership.
KnowingthatIwillbecalledupontoleadatsometime.
UnderstandingHigherGroundLeadership.
ReadingthisbookIbegantothinkcriticallyandreflectivelyaboutthewayIlookattheworld
andatleadership.Itencouragedmetomakechangesinmylife.Themanyquestionsposedin
thechaptersgavemepausetoconsidermypurposehereonEarth.ItisthefirsttimethatI
triedtoputmydestiny,cause,andcallingintowrittenwords.Ifoundtheprocesshumbling.I
believethatsomewillfindthevocabularyofthisbooktoospiritual.Admittedly,whenterms
suchasdivine,purpose,calling,andsacrednessareuseditmaymakesomeuncomfortable.
WordsareimportantasareactionsandIamnotclearastowhyitissochallengingforusto
practicelovingways.Tothinkthatservingothersisdivine.IknowthatIhavehadtotrulyfocus
onpositiveandlovingactions.IfoundthatthemoreIwasawareofmyactions,thatmy
thoughtsofmycolleagues,students,andfamilymembersallbecamemorepositive.Inturn,
theirresponsesandactionsbecamemorelovingandpositivetowardsme.Lovedoesinspire
love!
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DuringthechapterreadingsImadeseveraljournalnotesandchallengedmyselfdailytobe
positiveinmythoughtsandactions.IattemptedtopracticelovingactionsinhowIleadclasses
andhowIreacttocolleagues.Itooktimetoposequestionsfromthechapterstomyspouse,
ourchildren,familyandfriends.Theinspirationoflisteningwithsacrednesshasbeen
enlighteningforourfamilyandmyself.Icontinuetopracticethisnewwayofthinkingabout
listening.IamremindedthatIneedtobemindfulofwhatIsayanddo.Aswell,Ineedto
remembertorespondandactinlovingwaysbecauseactingwithloveinspireslovingresponses
andfollowers.
Toembraceotherwaysofseeingtheworldandtoreflectonmydestiny,mycauseandmy
callinghasbeenarawandintimateexperience.ItsupportswhatLanceSecretanstatesinthat
weneedtoleadfromtheheartandthinkofhowwecanserveothers.
IjustfinishedpilotingthenewGradeElevensciencecourse.ReadingInspire! What Great
Leaders DopreparedmetocriticallyobservehowIthinkaboutleadershipandaboutwhattype
ofleaderIam.Itooktimetoexamineandoutlinemydestinyandcallingandbelievewithtime
Iwillhavecombinedmydestiny,calling,andmycause.Thisself‐reflectiveprocesshasbeen
invigoratingandhelpfulinmypersonalandworklife.IthasbeenhardtoaffirmthatwhatIdo
isimportant.Ialsofoundithardtosayyes,IlovewhatIdoandIbelieveIamgoodatit.
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Chapterssevenandelevenweresignificanttomeastheyposedimportantquestions.I
discoveredthatthemoreIfocusonlovingactionsandservingothersthemoreableIamto
helpothersseetheirgifts.Iagreethatwemustfirstknowwhoweareandunderstandour
groundingandourpurposebeforewecanbegintoleadothers.Ifwearegenuineand
authenticinourpracticeswewillinspireotherstoformulatetheirownpersonaldestiny,calling
andcause.Ibelievethatmyeyeshavebeenopenedtoconsiderotherwaysofunderstanding
leadership.Myblinderswereonatthebeginningofthiscourseandbeforereadingthisbook.I
claimedthatIwasnotaleaderandthatIdidnotwanttoleadbecauseIwasafraidofwhatit
meanttolead.Thebook,Inspire! What Great Leaders Do,encouragedmetodiscoverwhat
servantleadershipisandtodescribemyCalling.IdiscoveredIleadfromtheheartandIhopeto
serveothersininspiringthemtodiscovertheirdestiny,causeandcallinginlife.