OUR Leadership BLOG

Dr. Paul Metler | 5/27/2016

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is fairest of all?
To this the mirror answered: You, my queen, are fairest of all.
Then she was satisfied, for she knew that the mirror spoke the truth.
It’s the line from Snow White that everyone remembers.

Dr. Paul Metler | 5/6/2016

John Mertz drew inspiration from a grove of aspen trees in the Rockies. In Activate Leadership, Mertz shares about a snowshoe journey into the mountains and powerful revelation by his guide. The guide explained how the aspens grow in community. They do not grow alone. Rather, the aspens are bound together by an incredible root system. Those nuggets of wisdom and the elaboration found in Activate Leadership are a fitting reminder. Leaders are not so different from aspens. They grow better in community.

Dr. Paul Metler | 3/28/2016

There is something contagious about a culture with highly engaged employees. Energy and a positive expectation about the future seem to permeate the atmosphere. What leader does not want that kind of environment? It’s not easy to get there. Most recipes for this kind of culture include a sizable measure of empowerment. Employees thrive when they are able to flex their leadership capacity.

Dr. Fred Johnson | 2/23/2016

Tough Times are a Breeding Ground for Great Opportunity
 
While attending college in the early 80s, I found myself in need of a summer job. In the midst of the Carter Administration, our economy was in a severe recession. Unemployment was high and hope was low.
 
One day, a local pig farmer offered me a position as a temporary laborer. I soon learned this was no average pig farmer and no ordinary pig farm. At the time, it was one of the largest family-owned hog operations in Iowa, sending hundreds of pigs to market each week.

Dr. Paul Metler | 1/28/2016

“A healthy soul, therefore, must do two things for us. First, it must put some fire in our veins, keep us energized, vibrant, living with zest, and full of hope as we sense that life is, ultimately beautiful and worth living. Second, a healthy soul has to keep us fixed together. It has to continually give us a sense of who we are, where we came from, where we are going, and what sense there is in all of this.”
 
Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing

Dr. Paul Metler | 1/19/2016

Imagine you are sitting in the back of a large room. You are listening to an energetic presentation. All of the sudden, the speaker pops a visual up on the screen. Your heartbeat speeds up. This is a critical revelation that will help your team overcome a significant obstacle. Without thinking, you begin to squint. You lean forward. You are interested in the content, but you cannot make out the words. Focus is a challenge.
 
It’s a helpless feeling when you cannot see what you need to see.

Dr. Paul Metler | 12/31/2015

“Choosing to remain on The Shore of Status Quo consistently yields a life of quiet misery. It represents those areas you find unsatisfying, unfulfilling, and yet you’ve chosen to settle there. In the shadow of the trees near the shore lies a private cemetery—a place dreams are buried and hope is laid to rest. You don’t want to visit it often, but you know it’s there.”
 
The Reality of Change by Fred Johnson and Paul Metler

Dr. Paul Metler | 12/11/2015

There is a predictable, observable pattern that accompanies the undertaking of any significant change.
 
–The Reality of Change by Fred Johnson & Paul Metler
 
A few years ago we made a change in our home. We exchanged our carpet for hardwood. For us, it was a positive change. Our response to the change was very pleasant. We loved the change.

Dr. Paul Metler | 11/24/2015

You have talked about change.
 
You have acknowledged the need for change.
 
You feel sure you are ready for change.
 
You haven’t made the change.
 
You are not alone.

Dr. Paul Metler | 11/17/2015

Stand on a beach. Walk along the shore. Whether you gaze out at the magnificence of an ocean or the beauty of a lake, you experience an unavoidable attraction. It’s nearly impossible to stand on the shore and avoid shifting your focus to the deep. For some, a simple glance toward the horizon is inspiring. For others, the shoreline can be a miserable place.
 
Simply stated, the shore is where you are right now. The shore is a metaphor for your present reality. When you look beyond today, is your vision of the future infused with hope and optimism or a sense of dread? Today can be the beginning of change or the continuation of the status quo.
 
Embrace creative tension.