The Mobiüs Strip is a 3-dimensional figure representing the endless intertwining of the inner and outer. If you trace your finger along the path of the strip, you will at times be on the outside and at times on the inside. The journey between inner and outer is unbroken.
‘We Lead Who We Are’
I learned about the Mobiüs Strip from Parker Palmer. Truly, you won’t regret the 6 minutes to watch his video on the topic. Here, Palmer describes the developmental journey of a leader. In particular, he clarifies a mark of maturity is living an undivided life.
Furthermore, Palmer develops his notion of an undivided life, like the mobiüs strip, in his writings on teaching. “We teach who we are,” he asserts. Similarly, my lived experience suggests we lead who we are.
“Your Life Story is Your Leadership Story.”
The Blueprint, Doug Conant
Ultimately, our leadership is completely intertwined with our life. Anything less is unsustainable.
Essentially, that’s why we are spending time exploring our Learn Forward™ sticky core values like ‘Be Like a Tree’ and now ‘The Mobiüs Strip.’ Living into our values is essential for health and well-being. Our community will only be as strong as we live out our core values.
The Mobiüs Strip in Practical Terms
In detail, what does this mean in practical terms?
- We don’t have to be perfect.
- Embrace our vulnerability.
- Be honest.
- From this landscape, we can build trust in our community.
- Thererin lies our influence
“Leadership has been described as the capacity to be totally and utterly oneself; to be able to show up fully, to express oneself, and to share this self with an organization that one cares about and wants to influence (Bennis, 1989; Whyte, 2001).”
The Wounded Leader, Richard Ackerman
Preventing the Hustle and Hollowness
Is it possible to show up as a leader inauthentically? Could you lead from a place of hollowness? Could the outside shell of you lead the hustle?
Yes. Of course.
Here are some ways, I’ve learned to prevent it.
- Journal daily. Get in touch with what’s going on inside of you. I’m currently experimenting with the D.O.S. framework by Dan Sullivan. Each day I review the current set of dangers (things we’re afraid of losing), opportunities (the possibility of gaining something), and strengths (our unique skills and experience).
- In safe places, practice showing up authentically. 97% of members the Better Leaders, Better Schools Mastermind feel they can “talk about what they need to talk about.” Join today.
- Tell stories. Your story engages your team. They want to share their stories too!
- Be transparent with your work and what you’re working on. My friend, Jess Hutchison, leads a school in greater Chicago. She shared yesterday about a teammate who said, “I know that’s your goal.” How? “I know all your goals!” What a compliment!
- Invest in your growth every week! Your progress, your wellness, your being will directly and measurably impact your team. Read, get a coach, join a mastermind, go to therapy, or have a rich collaboration on an issue that matters.
Sometimes, we all just need to ‘get up, dress up, and show up.’ But, we shouldn’t do that for too long; it’s not sustainable. Like the Velveteen Rabbit, it sometimes hurts, but you don’t mind. Ultimately, we must lead who we are.
For the sake of the children,
Karine
P.S.
In case you’re just too exhausted, I read this on another blog today,
“You know that the antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest?” “The antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest,” I repeated woodenly, as if I might exhaust myself completely before I reached the end of the sentence. “What is it, then?” “The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.”
David Whyte