The renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs pinpointed the foundations of a prosperous economy in a recent article. He states: [1] His post celebrated the life of the late Václav Havel, the Czech playright, who spoke out against the communist regime. His determination to speak out against the suppression of human rights by the communist government saw himContinue reading “Moral leadership – the foundation of prosperity”
Category Archives: leadership
Change and engagement, part one
The way we are changing is changing. The predominant approach to change has been to mandate it. An elite, at the top of the organisation, perceive a need for change and direct others to implement it. They will anticipate some resistance and have some strategies ready to overcome it. Often this change will involve someContinue reading “Change and engagement, part one”
Engagement and community building – the White Dog Café
In 1983 Judy Wicks started the White Dog Café in Philadelphia. It has become an exemplar for a community-based enterprise. Where I live, community enterprise is slowly but surely being eroded as an increasing number of national or international chain stores supplant local stores. While this typically provides benefits such as cheaper goods the longer-termContinue reading “Engagement and community building – the White Dog Café”
Leadership and engagement – keeping it simple
Some people say that you can’t teach leadership in a classroom. In some ways I agree, because learning leadership should be like learning to walk – something a baby finds difficult and scary, but evidently possible as there are so many role models doing it. I have been teaching leadership for five years and oneContinue reading “Leadership and engagement – keeping it simple”
More reflections on blogging
I have been blogging now, consistently for most of this year. I am starting to see the fruits of my labour as the search engines seem now to have discovered my blog. Blogging as exploration and inquiry I have been a student for most of my life, completing my formal education just a few yearsContinue reading “More reflections on blogging”
Leadership for our fragile oasis
Last week the NASA astronaut Ron Garan, and the great Muhammad Yunus addressed the Global Social Business Summit. They conveyed a similar message, but from totally different perspectives. Ron Garan is one of those elite who have seen the planet from the outside, and as with several of his peers, the experience had a transformationalContinue reading “Leadership for our fragile oasis”
Pepsico, Ethiopia and chickpeas – a win-win-win
Pepsico are engaging with partners and the Ethiopian Government in an initiative to improve chickpea production. Chickpeas are an ideal crop – they grow well in Ethiopia, the have great nutritional values, including high protein and, being a legume, help build soil fertility. Chickpeas – image credit and history of human use The plight ofContinue reading “Pepsico, Ethiopia and chickpeas – a win-win-win”
Engaging stories: Fairtrade cotton
I mostly drink Fairtrade coffee, sometimes eat Fairtrade chocolate, but must confess, I don’t wear Fairtrade cotton. That will change now that I am reading Harriet Lamb’s Fighting the Banana Wars and Other Fairtrade Battles. Struggling to stay above the poverty line Harriet Lamb tells of cotton grower’s subsistence existence in Africa, where cotton supportsContinue reading “Engaging stories: Fairtrade cotton”
Building capacity for employee engagement
The great thing about building engagement capability is the broad range of benefits. Engagement reshapes the nature of the relationship the organisation has with its stakeholders, be they customers, suppliers, owners, employees or the community. Reshaping the relationship with employees appears to have significant potential. It doesn’t take long to find a damming array ofContinue reading “Building capacity for employee engagement”
More engagement lessons from the Canterbury earthquakes
Recently, John Hamilton, the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, New Zealand, spoke about the Canterbury earthquakes at the National Board meeting of Neighbourhood Support. Resilience and personal fortitude John was effusive in his praise for the “personal fortitude” of Cantabrians and the resilience of their communities. Their response has negated the myth of weakContinue reading “More engagement lessons from the Canterbury earthquakes”
Bruce-Iri 