Unfolding Leadership

The Hole and the Portal

People naturally turn to those they consider leaders in times of crisis — for answers, decisions, emotional support, for a clear path through tense realities that risk immense and painful change. If you want evidence of this turn toward leadership, note the wide-spread critique of the President’s inactions, corruptions and lies well represented by this […]

March 31, 2020 – 4:07 pm | By Dan Oestreich | Posted in Choices, Consciousness, Self-Knowledge, Shadow | Comments (0)

The Other Contagion: Mistrust

Under any circumstances how people perceive they are being treated by their employers either creates greater or lesser trust. The coronavirus pandemic naturally stirs up and may drastically heighten whatever level of trust is part of an existing workplace environment — depending on what the leaders do. A lot has been made of ensuring adequate […]

March 16, 2020 – 2:42 pm | By Dan Oestreich | Posted in Changing the World, Reflective Leadership, Self-Knowledge, Trust | Comments (4)

No Mud, No Lotus

A few years ago, the Vietnamese Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, published a slim volume called, No Mud, No Lotus. The premise is straightforward: the “mud” of suffering is essential to happiness. The two are inextricably linked. To find happiness, first embrace your pain, look deeply into it, and learn to “suffer well.” Last week, […]

March 4, 2020 – 1:38 pm | By Dan Oestreich | Posted in Consciousness, Radiance, Self-Knowledge | Comments (0)

If It’s Not a Clear Yes, It’s a No

If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no. The phrase tests our clarity and commitment. It doesn’t apply in every situation that might be answered, “maybe, maybe not.” Not everything can be or should be clear cut. But the phrase may have distinctive value when it is a way of asking ourselves about situations […]