A Woman for All Seasons:
Frances Hesselbein

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«    “Leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do. We are too busy teaching a cookbook “how to” version with limited emphasis on the quality and character of the leader- for that is what truly determines lasting results.”

    Frances looks through a long lens. She is legacy based rather than drawn to the glitter of short term results. Just as the acorn holds the knowledge of the oak tree, Frances at the helm of the Girl Scouts held the vision of little girls growing into competent, compassionate women. That vision turned the Girl Scouts from an organization in decline (with the Boy Scouts of America eager to take the reins and offer membership to girls), into a strong organization creating an environment for girls to explore their uniqueness.

    While an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie is important for skill development, the deeper requirement is to give the girls a compass so they can stay on a life course clearly seeing what really matters.

    “Each girl can be helped to reach her own highest potential and needs role models to help guide the way. Most leaders we learn about are men; we need a safe place to discuss and explore the special attributes women bring to the modern world”. There is sadness coupled with indignation when she states the discomforting truths about our society that forces little girls growing up all too soon, where the pressure of image is causing girls as young as nine to become anorexic or bulimic and teen pregnancies are accepted without deeper discussion about long term implications. She touched an open nerve so often denied or ignored, Peter Drucker said, “We live in a society that pretends to care about its children and it does not.”

    That pioneer spirit so strong when she speaks is not just about problems and difficulties, she also has in her tool bag options and possibilities.

    She helped expand volunteerism so that young business women as well as older women who have developed great skills over a lifetime can mentor “our girls.” Her dedication to core values of truth, integrity and facing what is uncomfortable is now embedded in the Girl Scout culture.

    All this is interesting for a woman born into a generation trained to stay home as wives and mothers. Even more interesting is that Frances is the mother of one son, no daughters, and her career plan was to be available at home and write, especially poetry. Her love of language is evident in her quotes that appear as headers for websites and book chapters. She has an uncanny way of using the mind to get to the heart as she quotes, “Be careful of your deeds, for your deeds become your habits. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character; Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.” She talks about the world of work succinctly, “It’s not hard work which is dreary, it is superficial work.” And she cuts through a barrage of superficialities to the essence leading, “Listening… it’s called respect, it’s called appreciation, it’s called anticipation and it’s called leadership.”

    Her most important stepping stones seemed to come from continuous synchronicities. Frances said, “I call this providence. You end up where you are supposed to be. When I would resist someone would be there to open the door and push me in.”

    Her work career, for example, began without a resume or job interview. “When thirty ten year old girls were left without a troop leader I said I would “help out” for six weeks. That became ten years.” and when she agreed to be Executive Director of the local council to “help out” for six months, well, there was another warp in time. And six years later before she knew it she was the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA for 13 years.

    Her initial meeting with Peter Drucker could be titled “It Pays To Be Punctual”. She was the first attendee at a reception; the only other person to arrive early was Peter Drucker. And in that instant a friendship began that for 24 years continued.

    Frances became the Founding President of the Peter Drucker Foundation, in 1990 (now the Leader to Leader Institute) and in 2000 she became Chairman of the Board. “All because” she said with a chuckle, “I was taught it is polite to be on time.”

    When Frances talked about Peter Drucker who died in November 2005 at age 95 it was with deep caring and appreciation. “He was a man who exemplified the essence of leadership. It is up to us to carry on his legacy, to speak and act from the universal truths.”

    As I sat listening to the adventures of how she is choosing to live her life, I was keenly aware of the honor of being in the presence of an authentic human being.