opinion
Attitude Reflects leadership
“challenging People to Shape
a Better future Now”
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T
wo notes to share before I
jump into this thought: this
is but a portion of the larger,
necessary conversation that needs
to happen around leadership AND
this might be some of the realest
works I ever wrote … might be.
I believe the phrase was “stay in
your lane.” To which I responded
with a smile — “YUP!” First, the
message was coming from an
elder; someone I respected for
their contribution to the improve-
ment of things that mattered to me.
And of course they had lived more
years than me, and had gone
through things I’ve only read
about — so I had every good rea-
son to heed the words being spo-
ken and treat them as laws.
But only recently that phrase,
and most of what it implies, has
started to fall apart for me.
Ideally, “stay in your lane”
refers to respecting assignments,
valuing teamwork, and under-
standing limitations. As soon as
you try to do it all by yourself is
right when you start failing. But
which lane is mine? And how do I
know when I’m in it? Or veering
out of it? And when is it ever OK
to change lanes? These are the
questions that frame my challenge
and discourse. But they lead to
more: who decides the lanes? And
who determines who will inhabit
which lanes? And are they in their
lanes?
Please understand this is not
about challenging leadership, but
identifying it; calling it out and
getting it right. And what about
those who lecture “stay in your
lane” but always justify their
t HE S kaNNER N EwS
Rob Ingram
swerving in and out (often corre-
lating with dollars and/ or publici-
ty)?
I guess staying in one’s lane
would work in theory, if we could
iron out some of the stumbling
blocks. Perhaps looking at other
communities and cultures that
have managed to identify, promote
and maintain effective leadership.
tion for our children? What do we
want from those in influential
roles? And what is it we expect
from the justice system?
Again, I don’t have the answers,
and I admit there are many more
questions, but because there is not
one common set of language,
qualified group of representatives
and spokespersons, or clear set of
goals and outcomes, then we end
up chasing our tails — very
quickly. It ceases to make sense
after awhile. Bunch of activity=
no results!
‘Please understand this is not about
challenging leadership, but identifying
it; calling it out and getting it right’
I don’t have all of the solutions,
but am willing to do some work.
I do feel it is imperative to face
one of the biggest issues that
inherently have become the root
cause of most of our other issues-
lack of leadership. Not that we
have a lack of leaders, or that
those in leadership roles have not
served adequately, but we’ve not
been able to establish a leadership
core, or universal leadership prin-
ciples, or even an agreed upon
direction and list of requests. (So
hoping I don’t get in trouble for
this…) How could we know if
we’ve arrived if we never settled
on a destination? And can’t you
see how that creates so many other
conflicts? What is quality educa-
Like I said, this is only a portion
of the conversation. And is only
one volume in my take on it. So
I’ve got more to share, but I think
this is plenty for now. Not plenty
as in complete, but as in enough to
do something with. Mull it over;
kick it around and see how it
tastes. Perhaps we can start the
live dialogue and create action
steps towards what we want?
IDK, but I’ll leave with this: I
have nothing but the utmost
respect for my elders, especially
those in positions of leadership
and influence; for I know some
elected and strived for those spots
while others were ordained and
commissioned. The work that
happens in our communities now
could not be possible had they not
laid a foundation for equality. And
I appreciate the sacrifices and dili-
gence it took! Sincerely!
Now we are here, almost half
way through 2011, and things ain’t
the same. And whether we like it
or not, things will not go back to
the way they used to be. This is
where we are now as a product of
our collective decisions. I believe
it was said that the same minds
that got us here will not be the
same minds that get us from here.
And not always a different physi-
cal mind, but sometimes just a
new way of thinking. And yes,
there are times where just flat out
need new minds; new thoughts,
concepts and strategies. I think it
was also said that you can catch
more bees with honey than you
can with vinegar- no better way to
communicate these two words:
STICK TOGETHER!
I’ll fulfill my assignment, and
stay in my lane. And I hope others
will too. But somehow, I don’t
think that is the bulk of the issue.
Someone has got to command the
ship and chart our course; it’s
never good to leave that up to the
passengers (think about the
Titanic). I guess I feel like instead
of being told what to do, how to do
it and what will be done TO us by
those in authority, why don’t we
get behind each other, show more
support and respect leadership:
true servant leadership and stew-
ardship
that
is
FOR THE PEOPLE. Because the
old saying is still just as true:
Attitude does reflect leadership.
Disconnect to Connect: Outdoor Education
F
acebook, the new iPhone 4,
Google
Maps—almost
weekly we’re provided addi-
tional tools to become more virtu-
ally connected. All of these new
tools can increase our efficiency,
expand our communication, and
be great fun, but at what price?
There is a growing consensus
nationwide that our young people
are spending less and less time
outdoors with negative results,
from increased childhood obesity
to a more stressful pace of life.
Recently, President Barack
Obama promoted America’s Great
Outdoors, an initiative to recon-
nect Americans with our outdoor
heritage. The report is the product
of a year-long series of listening
sessions where Americans from all
walks of life let federal officials
know their aspirations for our
country’s outdoor spaces. While
there was alignment with why
many American seek the outdoors
for recreation, renewal, and educa-
tion, there was also concern that
our young people are disconnected
from their surroundings by spend-
ing less and less time outdoors and
unplugged.
This is part of a long running
trend as we have evolved to a
more urban/suburban nation. As
we move further away from our
outdoor heritage, we make the
wilderness less available to our
children—out of unfamiliarity,
fear, lack of time, lack of access or
other priorities. Educational prior-
O utDOOR l EaDERSHIP
Chris Agnew
ities have pushed outdoor experi-
ences to the backburner. As a for-
mer public and private high school
teacher, I’ve experienced the pres-
sure schools feel for annual yearly
progress on test scores. Well know
author, Richard Louv, articulates
much of these problems in his
school. A professional outdoor
education can be incorporated into
an elementary classroom or a col-
lege semester. It teaches students
what they need to thrive—both in
the wilderness of nature and in the
wilderness of everyday life—
leadership, environmental ethics,
and greater psychological, physi-
cal, and spiritual health. This is
hands-on education that sticks.
Recently, University of Utah
faculty researched the benefits of
There is a growing consensus
nationwide that our young people are
spending less and less time outdoors
with negative results
book “Last Child In the Woods”
and his concept of “nature deficit
disorder”.
I know the power of education
wilderness education through the
experiences of graduates from the
National Outdoor Leadership
... beyond outdoor skills, program
graduates gained critical life skills
including: effective handling of
difficult circumstances, teamwork,
leadership ...
that occurs in the outdoors. I am a
faculty member and an adminis-
trator at an outdoor leadership
School (NOLS). The study, “Long
Term Impacts Attributed to
Participation
in
Adventure
Education…” found that, beyond
outdoor skills, program graduates
gained critical life skills including:
effective handling of difficult cir-
cumstances, teamwork, leader-
ship, strategic planning, and how
to communicate effectively with
diverse types of people. These are
the skills that will power a 21st
century globalized economy and
lead to a more fulfilling life.
America is at a crossroads. Will
we be a nation connected by tech-
nology but detached from our her-
itage, each other and the very earth
we inhabit, or will we seize the
challenge that the President has
identified? The answer is clear—
outdoor experiences are critical in
the development and life educa-
tion of our young people.
Outdoor experiences throughout
our children’s development will
build a fit, healthy, connected pop-
ulation and a healthy environment
for generations to enjoy. Learn
more about connecting children
and the environment from Richard
Louv this week at one of two
speaking engagements at Seattle
Town Hall on Thursday, May 12
or in Bellingham at Sehome High
School on Friday, May 13.
Chris agnew ed.M. is the
Director of national outdoor
leadership
School
Pacific
northwest