The New England Leadership School

A leader is best when people barely know he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say "We did it ourselves." - Lao-tzu

We believe that leaders guide their own lives and the lives of others into a mysterious and challenging destiny. They understand that before they will be able to steward organizations and communities, they must be able and willing to shepherd the course of their own souls.

Leaders know how to set a direction with a soft hand. One that can loosen its grip and allow for the gifts, the strengths, the creativity of others to come forward and a grip that knows firmness when the times call for decisiveness.

Effective leaders know that unless they are willing to acknowledge and take responsibility for their own inner worlds, they will not be able to accurately assess the needs and challenges of the people whom they serve.

Effective leaders make peace with the inevitable fear that results from embarking upon a mysterious and insecure journey. We believe that leaders seriously handcuff themselves and steer their organizations toward precarious ends when they are unable to evaluate the impact that fear has upon their thinking, decision making, the creation of policy and the general pursuit of a mission.

We believe that effective leaders know how to hold authority in a way that facilitates the formation of partnership with those they serve, rather than exercising endless demonstations of domination.

Effective leaders rejoice in the creativity and productivity of those whom they serve. And they see failure as an offortunity to learn, exercise compassion, focus and move beyond complacency.

It is evident that our organism has stored-up reserves of energy that are ordinarily not called upon -- deeper and deeper strata of explosible material, ready for use by anyone who probes so deep. The human individual usually lives far within his limits. - William James