Last Friday’s (9/5/2025) Frances Hesselbein Leadership Forum email tip was on “Seeing Things Whole.” Hesselbein wrote in Leader to Leader (Vol. 2005, No. 37) that "Pulling out one piece, one action, one aspect of the leadership challenge is like playing a one-string guitar—noise but not much music."
Recently, I was talking to a group of leaders about leadership hurt. It is undeniably real but when it occurs, it is also very revealing as to the level of one’s leadership journey and maturity. I hope some of my thoughts on this subject matter will resonate with some of you.
Above is a picture of one of the thousands of apartment buildings in NYC. Hundreds look just like this one…except for one window.
Today I came across a quote from Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. The quote is: “To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.” So often we hear about work-life balance, and we think we should strive to achieve that. However, logistically, this is not possible.
I like to fish. Especially, fly fish.
But there’s something I like better.
I really enjoy teaching others to fish: to tie flies, build fly rods, to make a cast, a mend, a drift, a strike and a catch (and maybe release).
I like to catch fish—most any kind, or any size, sometimes “the big one.”
You might not believe it, but I enjoy even more, when people I love, or have invested in (spouse, grandkids, daughters, maybe even sons-in-law, etc.), do the catching. The joy comes with any kind, any size. But especially when they get “the big one.”
Often, when I am catching up with different colleagues across the state, one of the most common similarities is how busy people are at work and at home. Most people know my busy schedule includes a career at IPS, juggling being a student in school, and being a sports mom to a very busy teenager. In today’s fast-paced world, leaders often find themselves juggling numerous responsibilities and tasks.
I found the Firefighter’s Prayer and Statue in New York City to be very moving. We have a great privilege to work with first responders who run the risk of not coming home because of the inherent dangers that go with their service. I’m grateful that there are public servants who consider these risks and are willing to put their lives on the line for others.
While it’s not the same, anyone stepping up in a leadership role must take risks. Sometimes those risks could potentially result in loss.
The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS) will receive $2 million recurring from the state to establish a dedicated local planning function, assisting Tennessee’s cities and counties with economic development, zoning and infrastructure planning.
I have been asking myself this question often lately. Between the COVID pandemic and now the political landscape, we have had to navigate many unsettling and uncertain times in the past five years. How do we make good decisions with so many unknowns? How do we provide reassurance when we don’t know what the future holds? How do we continue to expand our work without guarantee that we will have the resources to continue? I have been contemplating these questions lately. Here are some thoughts:
