A Conversation with Margaret Wheatley

President emeritus of The Berkana Institute, a global charitable foundation serving life-affirming leaders

Q.  What is the Women’s Leadership Revival Tour?
A.  Today, the impact of women’s imaginative, caring and generous leadership is visible all over the world, sparking significant change. Our periodic visits to U.S. cities encourage more women to step forward and reconnect with the power of their own leadership.

Q.  Why is women’s leadership so vital now?
A.  Societies the world over are suffering as a result of not noticing the things that women notice. As a race, we are not noticing the long term, not thinking about the future. Instead, we are spending our future daily, heedless of consequences like pollution. Universally, women have a propensity for a long-term focus, because they care about their children. Women tend to focus more on relationships, the fabric of community and giving back to their communities. We also avoid aggression in resolving conflicts.

As women develop economic, social and political influence, profound shifts occur: children’s health improves, literacy increases, families stabilize and communities learn self-reliance. Wherever women step forward to lead, the whole system benefits.

Our tour events are just one vehicle for gathering women together in deep reflection and joyous discovery of where we can most meaningfully offer our leadership. I agree with Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations, who said, "The future of the world depends on women."

Q.  You speak of a new kind of leader. Who is s/he?
A.  We need to give up the prevalent "heroic leader" stance and understand that truly effective leaders work as hosts, who welcome the creative talents and contributions of others. This new/old type of leader affirms life, expands possibilities for progress, makes resources available to people so that they can do the needed work and depends on their contributions.

The Berkana Institute, which I co-founded in 1982, supports pioneering, life-affirming leaders around the world, who strengthen their communities by working with the wisdom and wealth already present in people, traditions and the environment. We define a leader as anyone who wants to help and is willing to step forward to create change in their world.

We know that the leaders we need are already here, and we invite them to explore their own courage to commit and support one another through "The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter". This essential leadership practice engages participants in creating innovative and comprehensive solutions. The fundamental difference between this practice and other approaches to leadership is that it revolves around enduring faith in people—belief that others are as talented and creative as we are.

Q.  What do you long to see for humanity?
A.  I long to see people remembering what it means to be fully human; what it feels like to be in life-affirming relationships; and to see them experiencing the joy of being together in their communities, in their work places and in the international scene. I am a champion for the human spirit. Our new Berkana slogan is: "Whatever the problem, community is the answer." Life-affirming relationships can get us beyond the terrors of fundamentalism, killing and dehumanization, now happening in so many places.

Q.  How do we engage the heart in leadership?
A.  Notice that you are in relationships with other human beings who have their own struggles; their own lives and potential. Noticing this, and realizing that others are as good as you are, naturally opens the heart.

Q.  How can we shift the paradigm of leadership?
A.  Start simply by noticing the issues that you care about. Gather with friends to converse about what’s important to you. Think small and simple about what you want to do. Remember Wangari Maathai, the professor-turned-activist, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for launching the global Billion Trees Campaign. She started by gathering with a few friends and planting seven trees. Like her, you’ll figure out where to go next.

For information on Margaret Wheatley or to spark a local Women’s Leadership Revival Tour event, visit www.MargaretWheatley.com. For information on The Berkana Institute and The Art of Hosting conference in Tampa, Florida, in May, visit www.Berkana.org.

Source:
by Linda Sechrist