Following a conversation with Nainoa Thompson ( a Wayfinder who navigates the Pacific Islands without the aid of instrumentation) I was left with an uneasy feeling concerning the contemporary norm when it comes to leadership formation.
But let me backtrack to the conversation with Nainoa.
He described in gripping detail the fear he experienced when navigating the Doldrums. It was the fear of getting lost. The Doldrums is a dangerous stretch of ocean and Nainoa described how he had to ‘close his eyes’ in order to navigate. Successful navigation required something beyond the traditional Western means. He went on to describe how he now welcomes ‘getting lost’ for the value of what gets learnt when lost. If fact there are things that can only get taught when one is lost – and that rich learning is what Nainoa has come to prize.
So much of the approach to leadership development is about not getting lost. Being sure, certain and safe. It is content driven as opposed to process driven and the resepective agendas for each of these differ in fundamental ways. What if our current approach represents ‘flat earth thinking’? What if we have it all wrong – and if we do, what will be the consequences?
How do companies and institutions find the courage to allow those in leadership formation processes to ‘get lost’. How do we embrace a process orientated approach to the development of authentic leaders?
These are questions that should form the very core of any discussion amongst those serious about leadership formation. But, in my experience ay least, they simply don’t.
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When I read this post I was reminded of the Star Wars Jedi who used the force to feel things which their physical eyes weren’t able to see.
Much of past, and some present, business is based on the visible, the concrete, the measured – if it can’t be proven then it can’t be real, it has no worth. And yet with women coming to the fore in leadership and business, how much of our ‘female intuition’ can be measured and proven? When we ‘feel’ that we should go in a certain direction with a business deal, when we feel prompted to trust, or not trust, a situation in business or negotiations. And it’s usually not based on the concrete, the measured, but rather on a ‘gut feel’ – an intuition.
Getting lost is not about not knowing where you are. You are always there. Getting lost is not taking the direct, most obvious route to the destination. And when one does this, then the insights gained and lessons learnt will not be the same as everyone elses.
Leadership is not taught. It is learnt through personal experiences, hardships and challenges. And leadership is honed when faith comes into play.