OUR ARTICLES

A new description by Meg Wheatley of Life-affirming Leadership has been particularly helpful as we continue to weave the From the Four Directions network.

Life-Affirming Leaders

Know they cannot lead alone. No one person is smart enough to know what to do.

Have more faith in people than they do in themselves, and patiently and courageously insist on their participation.

Recognize human diversity as a gift, and the human spirit as a blessing.

Know that people only support what they create. And only will act responsibly for things they care about.

Solve unsolvable problems by bringing new voices into the room.

Continually expand who's included in decision-making.

Convene and host conversations that really matter.

Know that trust and caring make everything possible.

Offer meaningful work as the greatest motivator.

Freely express gratitude, appreciation, and love.

Meg has also written five wonderful pieces stating the values, principles and conditions under which we created From the Four Directions. See also the Berkana website (www.berkana.org) and the Margaret Wheatley website (www.margaretwheatley.com) for additional articles.

Disturb Me! invites us into the ambiguity of these times. It leads us into an exploration of the uncertainties of life in this time of change.

Hope From the Four Directions tells you why those of us who are devoting so much time and energy to this effort believe it can make a profound difference in the world.

Restoring Hope to the Future Through Critical Education of Leaders talks about the need to create a populist revolution among leaders everywhere, based on a new understanding that a leader is "anyone who wants to help at this time."

Innovation Means Relying on Everyone's Creativity talks about how we must unleash creativity, diversity, goodness and caring in the world. We simply have no other choice if we are to collectively restore balance to human life on the planet.

Finally, Reclaiming Gaia, Reclaiming Life offers a challenge to be with life in a way that blesses, nurtures, and creates. It invites us back to our highest selves.

Bob Stilger has written about what he sees as Our Common Work, based in large part on his work with From the Four Directions during 2001.

In Meg's book turning to one another--simple conversations to restore hope to the future, there is a wonderful page describing the power that can be achieved through a community discovering what it cares about.

Read, use and enjoy! And come back to see what we continue to offer you here.