From Judy…
On Leadership
“To honor the leadership position, think about how you represent yourself through speech. A principal [president or CEO] is constantly being observed. Four or five letter ‘street’ words flung about casually on college campuses are not okay coming from a school head [president or CEO], even in private meetings.”
“Despite the value of many heads puzzling over a problem and the benefit of collaborative problem solving; an unsettling randomness can reign if the leader is not in control using proven techniques to manage the people involved and the activity that flows from their togetherness.”
“MASTERMINDING AN APPROACH
Most exemplary leaders spend a good deal of time thinking before they act. To the outside observer, they may seem to come through chaos unscathed, which may not be the true picture. While they may not have had any prior notice of a particular chaotic event, they probably have been preparing themselves for years to be calm in times of crises. These admirable leaders are not reactionaries; they are planners. Planning takes intentionality and insight.”
“Get to know the person who cleans your office. There will be times when just the two of you will be in the building working, that you have this in common is reason enough for you to engage.”
“The first days, weeks, and months are the most important ingredients of a successful leadership journey. Don’t drift into a community and expect a red-carpet treatment and open arms from everyone just because you are the principal (or President). People will be watching you and waiting to see you in action. Be intentional.”
“Remember kindnesses and savor the sweetness. It will alter your outlook on life and define your actions as a leader.”
“Leaders are expected to be ethical. It goes with the territory.”
“As leaders, we need to inspire others and get them to commit to us and our goals, not only with their heads, but also with their hearts.”
“Each notch in a leader’s belt requires resisting that ego pull, which is always there waiting to be welcomed.”
“Posturing and recounting past victories require enormous energy and time that could be put to better use. This freed up time could then be spent on figuring out precisely how to grow as a leader.”
“Positions of power can get many people into hot water because notably higher salaries, coveted parking spaces, coffee coming on demand, and too much adulation can make people believe that they are above the law or the standards of an ethical world.”
“People who assume they have all the answers have usually forgotten to begin with questions.”
“A leader must be flexible, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to stay centered in a world that is constantly changing.”
“You build trust one action at a time, one person at a time. Gradually this trust will be banked, which is critical when difficult decisions are required.”
“Tragically, in the past, and certainly today extremists can be found in any faith. These are those who have lost their way and believe that they are little gods … belittling, exploiting, and harming others.”
On Life
“Dig deep to find that source of wisdom that nourishes your truest self.”
“Goals are great when there is some oomph behind them.”
“People can help you stay centered if you choose wisely. Seek companions who are like-minded and positive. When times are tough, you need people around you who can hold you up and help you cope.”
“Stress is often brought about by the unsettling feeling that our lives are out of control, that things are falling through the cracks, and that we are somehow failing to do our jobs well.”
“I am a master of out of sight out of mind. Denial and escape are secret coping mechanisms for me and for many of us, I suspect.”
“Be nice. Being nasty is one rabbit hop away from being mean.”
“Becoming an ethical person requires maturity. Figuring out who you are and what you believe in moves you out of that self-centered place we all occupied as teenagers.”
“I’m looking for a sign to hang in my house. Forgive everyone everything. Like the city mission churches with crosses that flicker on and off all night beckoning lost souls- I probably need to go neon.”
“Our choices then and now are simple: can we admit our guilt and ask for forgiveness? If we can, love might save us.”
“Guilt can be good, not paralyzing guilt, but prodding guilt that shores up our better selves.”
“There is no one design that makes a family.”
“We desperately need to help each other slew, or at least tame the selfish dragon living inside each one of us.”
“Our job is to listen with an open heart, ready with humility and gratitude for what comes our way, acknowledging that we are perpetual pilgrims who rarely know the route of our journey even if we think we do.”
“I wonder if I can stop trying to control life and lean more frequently into the mystery that is full of grace.”
“We need each other desperately to function, to live a dignified life full of meaning and gratitude.”
“Prayer is not an add-on in our lives: it is the essential conversation.”
“There are so many ways to love and be loved. Each instance, each relationship is an invitation to live more fully and welcome grace as it comes our way.”
Judith D Knotts 