Hello Everyone, itโs been far too long.
Does a flower think it is not a flower because it is surrounded by dull dead branches?
Ones that seem to not awaken to the surrounding spring?
Does a flower think it must wait for leaves to peek out before before blooming?
๐๐ฐ. ๐๐ต ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ง๐ญ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด.
Some bloom ahead of everything else, heralding the coming change in the cycle.
Does a leader think they arenโt a leader simply because they are surrounded by volatility, uncertainty, and chaos;
Circumstances that remove certainty from conviction?
Does a leader think they must wait until after the cold snap that brings failure to others has passed to have certainty of success?
No. ๐๐ต ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด.
Those who lead beforehand simply herald the coming change in the cycle of humanity.
Itโs understandable to feel imposter syndrome when leading with your values in a world where our structures and systems have not caught up to the changing circumstances.
It shows up not just when we feel out of our depths skills-wise, but also when we say we lead in one way yet are constrained by the environment we find ourselves in.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ต๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐๐.
And you will not be alone.
The world will bloom in your wake.
โEffective leaders learn quickly that, while we might prefer it otherwise, the world anything but a black and white place. And if weโre all taking responsibility for leadership, then we all understand the gray is where itโs at.โ
Ari Weinzweig. A Lapsed Anarchistโs Approach to Being A Better Leader. Secret #22, โWeโre All Leadersโ
In many respects, itโs been a challenging winter for me personally, and despite having clarity, conviction, and direction, the years ahead do not necessarily seem as though they will be easier.
Recent discussions have shown me that I am not alone in this feeling, and yet, as with this flower, we can, and we will continue to thrive resiliently.
I find that having conviction makes the insurmountable become navigable.
The amount of work needed to be done to shift our understanding of leadership to a more authentic, equitable, and regenerative model is a lifelong commitment that I gladly undertake, because I am not alone.
You are not alone.
All of us will change things, together.
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.
This was the encouragement I didn't know I needed today. Thank you.