Achieved Strategies

“That you are here – that life exists and identity, that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” In 1892 this is Walt Whitman’s answer to the ever-relevant question, “what is my purpose in this world?”

Yes, you have a profound choice to make in how you will contribute your “verse” to those in your life, those yet to enter your life, and those who experience your contribution through others.

This is at the core of every New Era Leader.  Such a leader is someone who grabs hold of their existence and proclaims, declares, fumbles, explores what they can contribute all in the name of not himself or herself, but of others.

A New Era Leader symbolically represents a tipping point of leadership style positively influenced by

• the horrible management exhibited by executives leading up to and after the Great Recession;

• the endless examples of selfish and unethical choices displayed by executives, politicians, even athletes;

• the way social technology unites people and inspires people to share their “voice” on topics important to them; and

• the frustration citizens experience of the broken political system.

New Era Leaders use these broken examples to fuel their leadership style for good.  These examples don’t discourage but encourage all New Era Leaders to inspire others, to restore optimism and hope at work, in life, and in the work people do.

Tomorrow, I’ll share the five fire-lighters for New Era Leaders. These are the sparks that color how and why these leaders rise to the occasion of leading in this changed world.

Photo courtesy of *QuadWord