‘Our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world,
as in being able to remake ourselves.’ – Gandhi
‘My life is my message.’ – Gandhi
During the day yesterday I was holding a question: ‘As a leader and as a fully human being what am I charged to discern, understand, embrace, integrate, develop (or develop more fully) and live into and out of?’ This question emerged into my consciousness as I was reflecting upon Gandhi’s words. The following are listed in the order they emerged into my consciousness.
• Core Guiding Principles. Early on in my life I will develop and integrate ‘principles’ that will help guide me as I write and live my life’s story. These principles become my ‘life-philosophy.’ Once integrated they are no longer immediately or easily available to my consciousness. They are almost impossible to change for they help define who I am; they are part of my identity. I have a hidden fear – if I change them I will lose my identity. My ‘core guiding principles’ then inform, form and powerfully influence (if not direct) not only my life but the leadership principles that I will embrace and integrate. This combination of ‘life and leadership principles’ determines my ‘leadership philosophy.’ Here is an example: We all develop a Core Guiding Principle regarding ‘trust.’ For one it will be: ‘Trust all you meet along the way.’ For another it will be: ‘Don’t immediately trust anyone you meet along the way.’ For another it will be: ‘Don’t trust anybody you meet along the way.’ If we take the time and observe folks we will be able to come close to discerning their Core Guiding Principle regarding ‘trust.’ The guiding principle we have integrated regarding ‘trust’ will then form and inform how we lead and how we will relate with those who follow us.
• Core Values. Again, early on in my life I will embrace and integrate a number of values. A few of these will become ‘Core Values.’ That is, to the best of my ability I will never compromise them. We all embrace and espouse a number of values and most of these we are willing to compromise (for any number of reasons). When we integrate a value so that it becomes part of our very being (our ‘core’ if you will) then we will, like our core guiding principles, not be willing to ‘give them up’ – again, our unconscious belief is that if we give one up our very identity is threatened. Core Values are not necessarily ‘virtues’ they can be ‘vices’ – the important point is that they have become ‘core’ to who we are as human beings. For example, for some ‘integrity’ is a Core Value. For some ‘greed’ is a Core Value. For some ‘control’ is a Core Value. Our Core Values will also remain core to us when we become leaders. As leaders, like our Core Guiding Principles, our Core Values will form and frame our relationships with the led.
Searcher-Seeker 
Leave a Reply