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Welcome to the LeanForward, Inc. blog, which I’ve titled LeadingForward.

There is no doubt that the subject of leadership has been extensively addressed and that good research and thoughtful writing abound. The trouble, from my perspective, is that we still see far too many examples of irresponsible, unprincipled and ineffective leadership that have had a devastating impact on people and organizations. I want to be part of a movement that changes this reality and creates a core of leaders whose first priority is to serve those they lead and create positive results for all stakeholders.

In August of 2008, I left a decade of employment with Duke University to start my own company, LeanForward, Inc. I’ll wait for another day to discuss the wisdom of walking away from a secure job with a good income in the middle of a global crisis to begin a new venture. For now, just call it a leap of faith. For me, it has been a leap into a huge gap or void; not so much into an unknown and uncertain business climate, but rather into a vacuum created by a lack of principle-based leadership. This vacuum draws me – it compels me—to do something, anything, to help restore the faith people once had in leaders and redeem the hope and trust that have been lost.

The opportunity to work for an organization of the caliber of Duke (and several other good organizations over my career) provided me with a living laboratory for learning about leadership – i.e., what works and what doesn’t work in the real world. As an executive leader in human resources, I’ve had successes and my fair share of failures. I’ve tried to learn from all of these personal experiences, as well as the experiences of others. In fact, I’m still learning. The opportunity I have now is to work outside the confines of a particular organization in an effort to improve the practice of leadership across multiple organizations and industries. One way I can do this is by promoting the practice of “thought leadership.” I believe a good thought leader is someone who is a well-intentioned yet persistent provocateur and revolutionary. Provocateurs challenge embedded mental models – the cognitive shorthand we use each day to evaluate, define and respond to people and situations. Mental models need to be challenged when they keep us from being open to new ideas or inhibit our willingness to examine our conclusions about what is true. Revolutionaries challenge established practices, structures and authority. Practices, structures and authority need to be challenged when they fail to meet the legitimate needs and interests of people and organizations.

My personal mission is to play a part in helping to close the gap and fill the void created by poor leadership, and the systems and thinking that enable it. I hope this forum, and others like it, create a thoughtful, open and practical exchange of provocative, revolutionary and energizing ideas for building strong relationships and accomplishing superior results. I encourage you to join me in this effort. Your comments, suggestions and perspectives are always welcome. You may email at mark.rumbles@leanforwardinc.com.

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Saturday

Sep192009

Blogged Down

Sat, September 19, 2009

I have been writing my leadership blog faithfully since April 1st of this year. It has been a weekly commitment that I have made to myself. That’s twenty-four weekly posts of 700 -1,500 words without interruption. This week, however, the steady flow of ideas and words has stopped. I am three full days past my self-imposed deadline for the week and the theme pool is dry. The slate is blank. Since I know this is a temporary thing, I have decided not to force the issue by spewing out something that has little passion or significance behind it. Nobody has time for empty words.

I guess there is still a lesson in this experience. There will be days, sometimes weeks, when inspiration is in short supply or we are not tuned into it. I have always been a rhythm and flow kind of guy. When my energy is up and I am moved by fresh ideas, I can write for a very long time – hopefully expressing thoughts that others find unique, interesting and relevant. When the music in my head stops, and my stream of consciousness gets log-jammed, I am dead in the water. That is just the way I am wired, and it makes little sense for me to try and work against the current. I know that a fresh wind of inspiration will blow again. I find that it always does if we remain open and ready for it.

Perhaps you have run aground too with regard to some aspect of your work, social or home life. You need to know that it is okay. It is natural. It is to be expected. It is temporary. The tide will turn and you will be back afloat and on your way soon. It might be in a different direction, with a different destination, but you will be moving. You will leave behind the things that got you stuck, and, if you chart a brave course, you may even manage to make some waves as you sail forward. Until next time.

Mark Rumbles, President |

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