I Met a Guy

I met a guy on a plane one time and we were talking. In the course of our conversation I mentioned my interest in Max DePree and his leadership philosophy. The guy said, “I used to work for Max.” I almost fainted I was so excited. Here was a guy who had experienced what Max had written about. A way of leading others with a servant’s heart. I said, “What was it like working for Max?” His simple response was, “It was amazing.” I would have expected nothing less. Here is a taste of Max.

Leading others is not confined to the world of business. It is not limited to corporate objectives or project teams or anything. It is the stuff of daily life. We lead others by our very lives, how we response to success or failure, how we react to our children or our friends (or enemies), how we pursue our interests, or whether we do or no. Ultimately, like much of a meaningful life, it comes down to our heart. How do we treat the other person standing right in front of us? It is a question each of us wrestles with.

If you are interested in reading Max, I suggest his books Leadership is an Art or Leadership Jazz. They are easy reads and inspiring.

If you would like a little more, I have written about these things within a project context in Getting Amazing Things Done and reflected on them personally in Laughter Near the Edge of Heaven, both available on Amazon.

Henry

Lastly, if you are not familiar with my Substack essays A Curious Light, please give them a taste, it is free, and consider becoming a regular reader/subscriber. If you signup today, my essay The Longing will conveniently arrive in your mailbox 15 January 2024. I look forward to seeing you among my subscribers.