I have a good friend; my wife and I have known he and his wife for years. My friend served in the US Air Force for 20 years, starting as a young, enlisted airman. He pursued his college education, eventually earning a commission.
After retiring from the Air Force my friend worked for several years speaking all over the country, even internationally. He worked with a well-regarded consulting firm, sharing with business professionals and leaders, leadership insights gained from his tenure as a leader and officer in the Air Force.
As we got to know each other we learned of our shared passion to continually learn about, understand, and become better leaders. Our friendship has grown over time. As it did, my friend’s wife drew attention to this common focus we have around the leadership topic.
With that encouragement, my friend and I considered what we could do? What could we two somewhat unknown leaders do about with this shared passion?
That was the start of what is now LEADERSHIPTEN. My friend, Mark Noon, and I realized something. Looking back throughout our leadership lives we realized a common reality. There were unmistakable times when others showed up in our lives and impacted us, impacted our leadership effort. We knew too that there were times in our past when we felt entirely alone, even isolated, totally unprepared for what leading demands.
Framed by that thinking, Mark and I had a plan. We determined to seek out young emerging professionals and potential leaders. In doing so we offered them the opportunity to participate in a program to challenge them and work to develop their thinking around the leadership conversation. As noble as that endeavor seemed we had an even crazier idea – let’s do it at NO COST to those selected to participate.
We hosted our first ‘cohort’ in the spring of 2019. Now working with our 5th cohort, participants continue to engage in the 4 month-long leader development program at no cost. Professionally, past and current participants are varied including USAF fighter pilots, CFO’s, elected officials, dentists, attorneys, interior designers, educators and beyond. Here is the link on our web page to the program: Giving Forward – LEADERSHIPTEN
This effort has become the cornerstone of our leader development practice.
Since starting, Dianne Guthmuller joined the practice as our third principal. Time does not permit, but the addition of Dianne is another truly remarkable story about the leadership journey. Dianne absolutely fills Mark and my gaps in the organization; maybe that is another blog about how, for even the best, Providence plays a role!
We formalized the business creating an LLC. As we did we found ourselves – rather unexpectedly, serving commercial clients on a for-fee-basis (something we are all too glad to do!). To date, through the commercial side of our practice we have hosted leader development workshops in half a dozen states, across a variety of industries, coaching more than 100 leaders.
OK, so what’s the point here beside a history of LEADERSHIPTEN?
As leaders, we can all point to others who have contributed to, and influencing who we are as leaders. I am quite certain and can say without any hesitation, there isn’t a leader worth his or her salt that didn’t receive help and input from other, more practiced leaders who have gone before, gone ahead of those who follow them.
Who has for you? For me three names come to mind most notably: Mark Walker, Raymond Gleason, and Howard Locke. I’ll not bore you with the details but know that my leadership ability and capacity was shaped hugely by these three people. This is who has for me.
The logical question then becomes, if I have benefited from them, how will I be a benefit to others? No matter your worldview, the well-known proverb about being given much, and consequently requiring much, is undeniably true!
Mark, Dianne, and I know we are fortunate, being given much in our leadership travels. (Here is a link to our bios if you you’d like to know more about us – About Us – LEADERSHIPTEN). Our semi-annual cohort is one way we are working to be intentional and earnest to give (Giving Forward – LEADERSHIPTEN) those coming after us what really is not ours, but things entrusted to us . . . for a season.
Oh, and doing this with up-and-coming leaders is a real blast! Honestly, there is something oddly fulfilling and rewarding about doing this and doing it for free!
So, what about you, will you? If so, how will you?
We encourage you to consider these questions and challenge you to find opportunities to give, pour into others something that, if we are all honest with ourselves, never was really ours anyways!
Who has . . .? Will you . . . ?
To learn more about our cohort program, our leader development practice, or just join the conversation please . . . .
