Thoughts on leadership

My lovely new friend Professor Betty Sue Flowers of the University of Texas LBJ Library in Austin, shared these great quotes with those of us who attended our first Leadership Texas event in Austin last week.

"....(there is) a demonic character of all institutions built on competition. They intimidate and devalue persons. They even devalue the winners by insinuating that an individual must be better than others in order to have any value..."

"Collaborative systems are designed around such factors as shared vision, a keen sense of belonging, and the courage to tell the truth in all relationships. The reason that such collaboration lifts the spirit of human work is that it appeals to the best of who we are rather than the basest of our motives, encouraging the offerings of everyone's personal gifts for doing and improving the work. Sush systems enlarge and enhance the life of their members."

"All of us are on the same great journey. A journey down the river we call life. And on this journey we are each our own boatman. Find a vision of who we are, what we stand for and where we are going....then we can make these visions a reality and live into our dreams. It's your boat, it's your river and you're on it every day."

Dewitt Jones, "Focus Your Vision"