(The Restlessness Of) The Jack In The Box
More of the same isn’t working. Language – e.g. ‘race’, ‘sprint’, ‘zero’ - is potentially trap-making
As often as I can, I open the lid and let the energies express themselves
This is part one of our three-part series related to Leading Through Storms’ Four Pathways To Spirited Leadership framework, setting the scene...
At Leading Through Storms, we support people to honestly face into how it is to live through climate collapse and lead meaningful adaptation into the future. With decades of experience working at the intersection of environment, justice and leadership, we understand the challenges, know the value of ongoing community and offer diverse practices and processes that people find invaluable. Together, we help turn our itchy restless energies into spirited acts of leadership, experimenting with what it means to live as conscious citizens.
Over the past decade, we’ve noticed something about a certain demographic of leaders (who, incidentally, may or may not take themselves to be leaders):
Against the backdrop of a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world and frequent fallback to old, unhelpful patterns, we meet leaders who often find themselves (ourselves) misunderstood, apparently living in parallel worlds to peers. They (we) are consistently asking: Why don’t others feel motivated enough to do anything material to prevent an unfolding tragedy? It’s an itch that won’t go away.
More of the same isn’t working. Language – e.g. ‘race’, ‘sprint’, ‘zero’ - is potentially trap-making, perpetuating a culture that doesn’t enable them (us), as leaders, to be at their (our) best or access all our intelligences.
Their restless energies find them oscillating between energetic, creative engagement and being deeply frustrated, in despairing disconnection - perpetuating the idea: That’s just the way it is - at times - even when something inside so strong refuses to allow them to bow to this belief.
They are sometimes - and increasingly - asking: should I stay or should I go?
They sense that regularly coming together in deep connection with other like-minds and souls at the wild margins of (organisational) life is helpful. To do the invisible, vital, communal leadership work. To share their pain and struggles, discover fresh perspectives and new ideas, to feel stronger or more able, knowing they have others’ hands at their back.
They want to commit time and resource to feel part of a bigger movement, to better find their voice and place in the world, to have support with whatever experiments they decide to pursue in service of a regenerative future.
We at Leading Through Storms are playing our part, as hypha in the bigger mycelium of change, to support these leaders grow in service of a smoother societal landing during this bumpy collapse.
I’ve worked in, or consulted to, private, public and third sector organisations since 1989 – 34 years. Like many of us, for much of that time with itchy restless energies; those energies that deserve to be listened to rather than quelled. Energies to work with, and to put to use as spirited acts of leadership – employing the very same forces that I might otherwise use to quash the restlessness.
Perhaps these energies are a ‘jack in the box’ – I have to waste energy to keep them contained, even though they still have so much potential. So, as often as I can, I open the lid and let the energies express themselves with some support. Often these itches are emotional and physical, and once liberated, are able to be supported by thought from my head. Thought whose power can be employed with rather than over or in spite of these itchy, restless energies. Such a compelling, integrated force in the world.
In the next blog I will explore the framework itself which demonstrates how we seek to put these energies to work in service of spirited acts of leadership.
References
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is
Labi Siffre - Something Inside So Strong
The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Thanks to Katie Teague for the photo.
