In my last posting we began to briefly explore the tap roots that nurture, support and sustain the leader and his/her Inner Dimensions. Today we will continue our tap root exploration. As a reminder, last time we explored the following tap roots: Core Values, Core Beliefs, and Core Guiding Principles. Today we will begin to explore the remaining tap roots: Core Virtues/ Core Vices, Deep Tacit Assumptions, Prejudices/Stereotypes, Judgments, Perceptions and ‘Entheos’.
CORE VIRTUES/CORE VICES: We each espouse, if not embrace, a number of virtues and a number of vices. As with other ‘Core’ tap roots, we have integrated 2-4 virtues/vices so they have become ‘core’ to us. Again, these are ‘core’ because we strive never to compromise them; we choose not to compromise them because they are rooted in ‘needs’ – we have integrated a ‘need’ for each core virtue/vice. Anyone who has ever attempted to change a ‘need’ via a ‘want,’ ‘desire,’ or ‘wish’ intimately understands the power of ‘needs.’ A ‘need’ can only be changed or transformed by another, more powerful ‘need.’ A ‘virtue’ nurtures us and it nurtures those who experience our virtues-in-action. A ‘vice’ depletes and harms us and it depletes and harms those who experience our vices-in-action. In addition to being tap roots that affect the Leader’s ‘Inner Dimensions,’ virtues and vices also affect the Leader’s P.I.E.S. – the Physical, the Intellectual, the Emotional, and the Spirit(ual) dimensions of the person. Our virtues/vices also affect the P.I.E.S. of those who experience our virtues/vices-in-action.
DEEP TACIT ASSUMPTIONS: We all hold assumptions; some of them are ‘deep-tacit’ assumptions; they have become ‘core’ to who we are. We are not, generally, aware of them and it takes some time and energy and tenacity to uncover them. We accept them as ‘truth’ rather than as ‘assumptions’ and herein lies their power over us. A leader might assume that life is a struggle or a war or a journey or a party or a game. How the leader then lives and expects others to live is rooted in the assumptions one has integrated. They are ‘deep’ because they are not easily available to our everyday conscious efforts. They are ‘tacit’ because we ‘understand’ them to be true even though we might never verbalize them as ‘true.’ We can begin to uncover our deep tacit assumptions by paying attention to a three letter word ‘ALL;’ as in ‘All employees will take advantage of you if they can!’ Now, gentle reader, consider that an assumption is something we take for granted – it is the way it is – and it is rooted in arrogance (pride or hubris).
PREJUDICES/STEREOTYPES: A ‘prejudice’ is: a favorable or an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. A ‘stereotype’ is: a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group. We humans hold, have integrated, both. Again we act as if they are ‘true’ as if this is ‘reality.’ Because they are rooted in ‘emotion,’ ‘reason’ or ‘logic’ or even ‘facts’ might not deter us from holding on to them. Because many of them are also deeply connected to ‘groups’ we are part of, in order to let go of them we might well be marginalized or shunned by the group and this requires a courage we might not possess.
Searcher-Seeker 
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