New Program Inspires Teen Leadership (continued)

    Teens will discover new and effective ways to communicate, how to solve problems and reduce stress, as well as the leadership skills they need to achieve success in the future. According to Mary Jane Saras, LCSW, co-facilitator of the program along with Laird Warner, Ed.D., "Many of the participants in our Total Leadership Connections (TLC) program have often lamented, 'I wish I had known then what I know now.' " So we're rising to the challenge and invite YOUR teen and friends to join us for an event that could change their life! What better gift could you give to the next generation? For more information or to register, call Mary Jane at 570-636-3858 or email Mary Jane.

You can also download a PDF brochure of Young Leaders in Action by clicking HERE.

Legacies Lead The Way Home (Continued)

    Somewhere between the third and fourth sessions of Total Leadership Connections (TLC), I realized that if I continued to dwell on those patterns that were holding me back, I would remain stuck. I needed to stop myself from focusing on the old patterns - such as "victim" and find the courage to change. Talking about change is one thing, doing it takes determination. So what could I do instead to finally get "out of the woods?"

    One night as I was looking over my Sankofa Map again, it occurred to me that if I focused on and appreciated the wonderful, positive legacies passed on by past generations, I would be much better equipped to get on with it. The story that stood out for me was that of my great, great grandfather, who had been a leader of the tenant farmers in his "town land" in Ireland. In a last ditch attempt to seek redress for injustices, he led the tenants in a collective lawsuit against the landlord. Although the court ruled in favor of the tenants, their demands bankrupted the landlord. My ancestor, along with the rest of the tenants, lost his home and livelihood. As the story was told to me, he said to his family, "We're going to America. There's no future here." With their last few dollars and an undying faith, he, his wife and 10 children came to the United States to seek a better life.

     As I thought about this story, I realized that he could easily have fallen into a "victim" pattern, but instead he stepped up to his new role as an "explorer" and found opportunity in a different place. His heirs - male and female - continued the legacy of strong effective leadership in a variety of fields from business to education to missionary service in developing countries.

    Reminding myself of that story and of their strength, persistence and faith in the face of almost overwhelming odds has given me alternate patterns with which to carry on my own leadership legacy. Now, when I catch myself in an outmoded pattern, I visualize my ancestors coming to America and becoming successful leaders in their communities. Their souls are with me, guiding me and encouraging me to take more risks, as I move forward in my own journey. What a difference this learning has made for me both personally and professionally. So here is an important question: What positive legacies can fuel your own vision for a better way?

New Mexico Enchantment (Continued)

• Experience a hands-on drumming and singing workshop led by Native American teacher Arnold Herrera of the Cochiti Pueblo. Herrera is a drum maker and also trains people in ceremonial drumming, according to John Meade, a journey facilitator and member of CEO’s consulting faculty. Herrera works with the Institute for American Indian Arts, the Santa Fe Indian School, and surrounding pueblos to pass on his culture.
• Learn the mystery behind the art of fetish carving and create one of your own. Cloud Eagle, a Native American sculptor, will lead the class at his studio and help you explore the animals that connect you to the land. Cloud Eagle is a full-blooded Tewa Indian from Nambe Pueblo, New Mexico, and has studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. Much of Cloud Eagle’s work involves the idea of the circle, things repeating and returning, the oneness of nature.
• Participate in a ceremony of a traditional Lakota sweat lodge led by Hernan Quinones. The sweat lodge ceremony is an opportunity to be in connection with the earth and your ancestors.
• Explore Abiquiu, where the red rocks and turquoise lake inspired artist Georgia O’Keefe. The group will enjoy a private tour of O’Keefe’s home and studio.
• Camp in Chaco Canyon among the ruins of the Anasazi civilization, which, according to John, “is about as far from civilization as you can get in the United States.” The Anasazi people, from whom the Pueblos are descended, built a complex network of roads and were knowledgeable about astronomy. The group will also visit the Observatory at the Visitor’s Center.
• Reconnect with nature during a day-long personal vision quest— a special time set aside in nature to help you reconnect to what has meaning and what patterns and obstacles are getting in your way.

For more information, click HERE.

Coaching Through Resistance (continued)

    After you slow down, ask Jennifer what she wants as an outcome of the work situation and then, BE STILL. Let her work out the answer in her own head. The silence will require her to pay attention. As long as you stay quiet and respectful you have done your fair share. These techniques are called a pattern interrupt and do, indeed, offer someone the reflection time needed to observe behavior.

    If Jennifer responds to your question with even a minimum of self awareness, you can then acknowledge her for the willingness to go beyond old ways of relating and how difficult that is when the pattern of "bossing" began in childhood.

The Power of A Word (continued)

    During that first meeting, the two of them sat in chairs across from each other. (David knew that it wouldn't help if he sat behind his desk.) As the meeting unfolded, Sara told David she felt isolated at work and that her old boss never paid attention to her, gave her too much work and that she was always in overwhelm. Whenever she went to talk with him he was too busy. David noted that Sara used the word "isolated' over and over. He was aware of the importance of timing and told Sara he would like to think about what she said and talk later in the week. He gave her the option of having the union representative there being sensitive to giving her power in the decision making process. She agreed to meet alone as long as she could leave if uncomfortable.

    It's now the end of the week. After polite conversation, David commented that he was curious about Sara's sense of isolation and asked if that had ever happened in a previous job or perhaps at school. As David told it, Sara paused for what seemed like an eternity and then told the following story.

    Sara's parents had been killed in an automobile accident when she and her twin sister, Suzanne, were eight years old. There was no family around and they both were placed in a foster home. The home was clean, but unemotional. Whenever Sara would speak out she would be told to stop being a rebel. One day when the girls were eleven, they were walking home from school with a large group of kids. Suzanne, who was closer to the street, was hit by an out of control car and killed. Sara was not allowed to talk about her loss in the "stiff upper lip" foster home environment. She was isolated and alone and swore to herself that when she grew up she would never remain silent, would speak up no matter what and didn't care if she was labeled a troublemaker or a rebel.

    Note that years later, the pattern of rebel born out of family loss, cultural norms and crises was being played out. David knew better than to play armchair psychiatrist. He simply listened. And then, when Sara was finished, offered to create a new agreement with her so she would be free to speak up whenever she felt the need. He asked Sara to help him develop an environment of openness and cooperation for the whole team. Within one month the lawsuit had been dropped. She was able to take the energy from the pattern role of rebel and move it to the positive role of community builder. As of today, three years later, David and Sara are still working together. Sara is an advisor to the union to make sure that the complaints are not based on patterns from the past.