109. Leadership From The Edge

“Ecotones” are the transitional edges or boundaries between two ecological communities. They are the most vibrant, adaptable and diverse eco-systems in nature leading to their remarkable resilience and stability.

The opposite of such vibrant and diverse ecologies are mono-cultural zones such as those developed by industrial agriculture which are sterile, require continuous intervention and have no natural immunity.

A healthy eco-system promotes stability by reciprocal exchange between the core and the periphery, between the center of an ecology and its transitional edges or membranes.

The mono-culture system is threatened by such exchange.

The analogy applies to so many things!

‘Leadership’ in mono-cultural terms is not leadership at all. It is control, prevention and self preservation within narrow tolerances based on assumed knowledge and contrived structures.

Leadership ‘from the edges’ encourages stability, vitality, versatility, growth and dynamic exchange by an instinctive belief, trust and ability to surrender to natural intelligence! It comes naturally.

Sound leadership does not occupy the center. It doesn’t need to.
It keeps the center open – by invitation. When we ‘occupy’ the ‘center’ of our lives or our classrooms, endeavors, communities… nothing else can join us!

There is a choice.

~PAZ

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“A wise man changes his mind, a fool never.” -Spanish Proverb

“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.” -Unknown

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” -Lao Tzu

“A leader is not an administrator who loves to run others, but someone who carries water for his people so that they can get on with their jobs.” -Robert Townsend

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” -John C. Maxwell