A New Year’s “Blessing" for Leaders by John O' Donahue

John O' Donahue and his beloved dog

John O' Donahue was an Irish teacher and poet. O' Donahue explains "blessing" as a way of life, as a lens through which the whole world is transformed.

                    A New Year’s Blessing For leaders

MAY YOU HAVE THE GRACE AND WISDOM TO ACT KINDLY,
LEARNING TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT IS PERSONAL AND WHAT IS NOT.

MAY YOU BE HOSPITABLE TO CRITICISM.
MAY YOU NEVER PUT YOURSELF AT THE CENTRE OF THINGS.

MAY YOU ACT NOT FROM ARROGANCE BUT OUT OF SERVICE.

MAY YOU WORK ON YOURSELF, BUILDING UP AND REFINING THE WAYS OF YOUR MIND.

MAY THOSE WHO WORK FOR YOU KNOW YOU SEE AND RESPECT THEM.

MAY YOU LEARN TO CULTIVATE THE ART OF PRESENCE IN ORDER TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE WHO MEET YOU.

WHEN SOMEONE FAILS OR DISAPPOINTS YOU, MAY THE GRACIOUSNESS WITH WHICH YOU ENGAGE BE THEIR STAIRWAY TO RENEWAL AND REFINEMENT.

MAY YOU TREASURE THE GIFTS OF THE MIND THROUGH READING AND CREATIVE THINKING SO THAT YOU CONTINUE AS A SERVANT OF THE FRONTIER WHERE THE NEW WILL DRAW ITS ENRICHMENT FROM THE OLD,

AND YOU NEVER BECOME A FUNCTIONARY.

MAY YOU KNOW THE WISDOM OF DEEP LISTENING, THE HEALING OF WHOLESOME WORDS, THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE APPRECIATIVE GAZE, THE DECORUM OF HELD DIGNITY, THE SPRINGTIME EDGE OF THE Insight-Generating QUESTION.

MAY YOU HAVE A MIND THAT LOVES FRONTIERS
SO THAT YOU CAN EVOKE THE BRIGHT FIELDS THAT LIE BEYOND THE VIEW OF THE REGULAR EYE.

MAY YOU HAVE GOOD FRIENDS TO MIRROR YOUR BLIND SPOTS. 

MAY LEADERSHIP BE FOR YOU A TRUE ADVENTURE OF GROWTH.

I believe that leadership is not a role; leadership is a practice. One does not assume the role of doctor, attorney, CPA, engineer, artist or musician. One practices medicine, law, accounting, engineering, art or music. Great leadership is the result of great practice.

If the poem resonates with you, I'd recommend  following a simple daily practice that I call "JUST BE IT" (My apologies to Nike 😃)

[Print out a copy of the poem and keep it with you.]

Before walking into the office or your work area:

Cue: Turn off ignition or before you turn on your home office computer.

 

Routine: Be intentional about being more [pick one of the leadership qualities from the poem] with others (“Today I will be…”)

Before closing out your day.

Cue: Turn on ignition or turning off your computer

Routine: Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (low in exhibiting the quality) to 10 (High)

Reward: Do something (Or say something) kind to yourself because of the effort and/or progress you made.

In the words of George Elliot, "It's never too late to be what you were meant to be."

To your greater success and fulfillment in 2022,

Peter Mclees, Leadership Coach, Trainer and Performance Consultant
SMART DEVELOPMENT

 

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