Comments for Brianvirtue.org

Comment on Stemming the Tide of Scapegoating by reg

reg — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0000

that’s one wise 7-year-old.

Comment on Maturity is Contextual by BVirtue

BVirtue — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:18:00 +0000

thanks carrie! glad you appreciated it. It’s something I’ve been communicating for a couple years, but never tried to write it down until now You’re right how it’s what the integrating good and bad looks like across the broad scope of our lives and experiences. Thanks Car!

Comment on Maturity is Contextual by Carrievirtue

Carrievirtue — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:36:00 +0000

i absolutely love this post, Bv. You articulated things so incredibly well, as always
this is definitely a dynamic i have felt and feel to this day. It’s amazing how certain contexts or people can bring things out of you that you want to deny is there or deny is part of you. The ‘that just wasn’t me’ phenomenon is so interesting and so hard because we don’t want to believe we have such ugliness in us. But the reality is we do. I do for sure. But it’s great to not fall into the good/bad split in it all. like you said “we are both”. We have areas where we function well and contexts in which we thrive, as well as contexts that require growth and increased awareness of our defects. In both we should acknowledge God’s grace- which has given us our strengths and forgives our defects.
great example of people in power, too.
love you!!
and THANK YOU for posting this! i’m going to share it with others!

Comment on New Phenomenon – Laundry Basketing by BVirtue

BVirtue — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:22:00 +0000

Awesome – I should set up a web site So funny when I saw that picture. Kaelyn’s a climber and always is trying to climb in things and I think she got stuck.

Comment on New Phenomenon – Laundry Basketing by Glennis Shih

Glennis Shih — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:05:00 +0000

I love this! Gonna pull out my laundry basket now and stick my head in it

Comment on Blogference Day 4: Making Servant Leadership Relevant in Diverse Contexts by Brian Ricci

Brian Ricci — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:04:00 +0000

OK…so let’s move from theory (which I agree with) to practicality. How does all this work. Sometimes, around younger co-workers, I find they are a bit more silent to my ideas, then they later tell me, they recognize I am older and wiser (that last part is debatable…LOL!), so they admit they are a little reluctant to share counter ideas. They don’t want to seem disrespectful of experience. Then when I am around ethnic groups, particularly Asian-American students, they can be even quieter, telling me later it is out of respect for their elders as well as the power culture thing coming into play. In my head…that drives me nuts! I REALLY want to hear from them! I really value their ideas, even if they are 25 years younger than me! I truly believe they have something to offer….but they have to be willing to openly engage the ideas and contribute to the conversation. I get stumped with just how to handle this culture power thing. It gets me frustrated and thinking they are just passive…until I watch them interact with each other, then they go at it…sometimes furiously! I love that part. So how do we lower the perceived cultural power issues so that honest communication and truly shared leadership can take place? Is there something those of us in the dominant culture can do….or is the ball more in the court of the minority culture, gender, or organization position of lessor power? I feel stumped.

Comment on Blogference Day 4: Making Servant Leadership Relevant in Diverse Contexts by Brian Ricci

Brian Ricci — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:04:00 +0000

Comment on Power in Groups: Limited or Unlimited? by BVirtue

BVirtue — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:19:00 +0000

Really enjoyed reading that Brian – I can resonate with that. Especially the part where creating space for others can take some of the pressure off of ourselves while at the same time allowing for others’ development and unique contributions. Leadership development so often focuses on raising up more leaders who can do what you want them to do. I like your final point – leadership development really needs to be about increasing the number of servant leaders who are in turn able to help make room for more and stronger servant leaders as well.

Comment on High Level Relationships by BVirtue

BVirtue — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

Thanks for the comment Brian! I just re-read it too and found myself looking at these categories much differently than I first read through them, because different experiences and situations are exposing different things in me. I agree – they’re interconnected and always at work. I wish I could identify when they are lacking in my relationships a little quicker though!

Comment on Power in Groups: Limited or Unlimited? by Brian Ricci

Brian Ricci — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:23:00 +0000

This makes total sense and I have seen it played out in my own leadership experience. For years I held the most prominent place or role of leadership on various teams…in much of a “top-down” leadership structure. Now that I am in a role where we have flattened the leadership structure and have created a peer-team of leaders, none of us solely in charge, but all leading together, where I am no longer at the top….I am seeing how my taking up less “leadership space” and making more room for others has actually allowed for the greater leadership growth of others on the team. Other leaders who felt like they were Junior-Varsity are now rising to the occasion and playing like the star players and leaders they are wired to be! This has taken pressure off of my shoulders as others now carry the load together, but has also brought about a greater sense of joy amongst all of us as we all really feel like we are in this together…thus we really need each other. In many ways it is an irony. I used to think that the greatest joy was found in being at the top (as long as I led well) but now I am finding there is much greater joy in “leading together” with those I have made leadership space for by actually diminishing the amount of leadership space I occupy and at the same time giving away power and inviting others to step up and lead together. It is not only freeing, it is refreshing, more powerful…and ultimately builds stronger servant leaders!