Hello Everyone,
After my recent post on imposter syndrome, I had several people reach out letting me know that they felt seen, and appreciated the message that taking a small action when everyone else is waiting for the โright momentโ marks you as a leader.
It was also suggested to me by Kait Arndt that I talk about the process for how I turn my inspiration from nature and ecosystems into lessons for leadership and social ecology.
The truth is, I donโt have a mechanical process. Itโs more of a practice in sharing my perspective that mirrors how I work with leadership: ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ.
Different plants require different conditions to thrive.
Different leaders, different people, are much the same.
So in my walk the other evening, I saw the relationship of the flowers to the natural environment in the same way I see the relationship of a leaders to their social environment.
As I looked at the small quince flowers, blooming when nothing else at my altitude was ready to brave the cold, they stood out against the drab surroundings for the same reason certain people stand out as leaders others are willing to follow.
When organizations and work environments are dull and broken, when no one seems ready to change despite the need and desire for it, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐, ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐.
You donโt have to be a towering oak of a leader, or even an impressive lily that gets transplanted into an area to give that signal, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ.
Both environment and the individual play a part in who we see as leader.
By viewing leadership the way I do, I find lessons in what might appear the most unlikely places. You have have your own perspective that allows you to do the same, if you embrace it.
Our environment speaks to us, because we all live in the same world.
We can recognize the tenacity of a dandelion or some other hardy plant because weโve seen it grow in concrete as easily as a field of grass.
We recognize the same quality in those who are willing to put themselves out there, not as risk-averse innovators who center the focus on themselves, but those who understand and cultivate the relationships of the people around them no matter the working conditions.
๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
Until next time,
Chris
Welcome, and thank you for your presence!
I am a leadership ecologist rooted in Appalachia, raised through environmental respect, military service and Western educational institutions. I use an animistic lens to better understand the relationship between individuals, organizations, and systems.
When working with leaders and organizations, my approach not one of doctrine, but of guidance and tending: to memory, to culture, to systems and people. I believe leadership is not a fixed role, but a living, relational practice.
My work draws from my lived experience and research into myth-making, insurgency and business strategies, regenerative philosophies, creative works, the landscape I inhabit, and the mundane, because the ember of humanity is often nurtured in and between those spaces.
If something resonates, leave a comment, or reach out to chat - I always love hearing peopleโs stories.
You are always welcome to book a free call to either get fresh perspective or see if weโd work well together in cultivating your capacity to lead.
I offer a variety of services, 1:1 coaching, group programs, leadership training development, and culture consultation.