Much has been written about leadership: how to go from being a good leader to a great one, how to inspire and motivate and even improve the lives of people who work for you while keeping an eye on the bottom line and profits. Even the Dalai Lama has written a book The Leader’s Way” — The Art of Making the Right Decisions in Our Careers, Our Companies and the World at Large. Of course, his world view is one of kindness, compassion and respect for our fellow man and woman.

Women with Wings’ leadership principles, research, workshops and conferences are also about honoring and respecting the human experience in all areas of life, including Corporate America, medicine, government, religion, education… not at the exclusion of strategic thinking, or financial expertise, calculated risk or fair governance, but in concert with.  Business author William Duggan calls it  “Strategic Intuition”  – or the meeting of experience with a flash of insight … we, too, believe that experience coupled with intution can lead to fair and balanced, humane leadership. 

Great Leadership is anart form.

Rarely have I seen a leader who is creative, compassionate and competent in their field of expertise. For some reason, the intuitive and compassionate side of people has been left “to the side” on the road to good leadership. The best leaders are those who tuck their egos in their pockets, see the person before them and listen, truly listen to their ideas, their challenges and solutions….they allow people in the work place to feel—I don’t mean melodrama run amuck—but use their emotional intelligence and intuition in addition to an excel spread sheet to see situations clearly, make solid decisions and resolve challenges.

I have always believed that business can allow for honor and human dignity—and that oft used phrase

“Don’t take it personally, it’s only business”

is outdated and meaningless, particularly in the culture of sharing we find ourselves in. So many people live for their careers, and their careers, jobs, positions within an organization are their identities. How can you tell someone to put their identity away and not take things personally?

Business IS personal.

Concept: Open Leadership

“Having the confidence and humility to give up the need to be in control, while inspiring commitment from people to accomplish goals.” (Charlene Li, Altimeter Group.) In essence, how to give up control, and still be in command.