What if we made listening, not talking, our greatest act of leadership?

Season 10 of Mission Forward closes with a reflection on the quiet, powerful lessons that shape how we lead, connect, and communicate. From courageous truths to candlelit hope, this episode offers a mosaic of wisdom to carry forward.

Earlier this week, I asked my colleagues at Mission Partners, “What song do you put on repeat when you need some calm, comfort, or renewed energy?”

These days are hard, for all of us, in many different ways. The best we can do is hold the light we have up for others.

No matter the industry or the discipline, problem-solving is best done when it involves those closest to the problem. And yes, sometimes, the best action is to simply get out of the “dam” way.

As my wise teacher Don Foley reminded me this week, learning to be brave isn’t just in what we say; it’s also in how we listen. It's in what we take to heart.

Regardless of what you believe, where you live, and what you do, you will likely agree that these are tumultuous times in America. Now, more than ever, is the time for Truth.

Some of the most revolutionary acts we can take to improve our social fabric are also the most simple.

It's natural to bend toward hopelessness in heightened moments of stress and uncertainty. In those moments, seek solid grounding in the things that you know for sure.

Whether you lead an organization, a team, a project, or a phone call, your behavior sets the tone. If you lament your current-day leadership, ask yourself: Who is the leader you really need right now?

Incivility at work is an intensifying reality. It can get the better of us and bring out the worst in us. This week, practice “ventilating your soul with tenderness” and work to create spaces that foster civil conversation and muscle building. I think you’ll find the whole team gets stronger as a result.

Yesterday's Super Tuesday polls closed as expected for a U.S. presidential election cycle dominated by a set of expected frontrunners. However, it's not particularly what's in the headlines this morning, as what is absent from them: the increasingly sharp polarization among U.S residents and the effect it is beginning to have in our workplaces.

As we dive into 2024, leaders are facing greater threats and barriers to change, particularly to advancing social change. Where, then, to begin with a reinvention?

Character may not help you in the moment of crisis. But, what could it could do for you if you started investing back into your own character-building today? Because character-building may be the very best way to maintain your reputation for the long term.

Have you ever questioned the impact you can make as one person? What If you have a far greater influence and impact than you realize? And what if your micro-level decisions can result in powerful and positive macro-level changes?

We can’t turn back time, but we can progress forward. So, if there is a person you believe you’re done learning from, I invite you to reach out to them today. Tell them that you were thinking about them. And then listen closely to whatever they have to share. You may be surprised by how much there is left to learn.

This week, the story of a quote. This quote is among the most well-known and widely shared of the words of a legend of peace. It’s been used by well-established thought leaders, in scholarly publications, books, and presentations, with thousands of references to this quote across social media. The problem is, the person never said it.

AI is an important tool and an indelible part of our future. But we don't need to lose our humanity in the process of using it.

The memory we carry in our pockets directly affects the memory in our heads—and that impacts how we communicate. So, what are you doing to protect that precious time you have ... to think?

The most compelling stories for social change break stereotypes and build new ways for us to understand issues and each other. Start by looking for stereotypes in your communications, and then practice some reframing. As we learn this week, the story will be even better as a result.