Comments for Erik Van Slyke http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com on listening, change and creating cultures that thrive Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:45:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Say What You Need to Say by Erik Van Slyke http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/07/15/say-what-you-need-to-say/#comment-1800 Erik Van Slyke Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:45:45 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=1011#comment-1800 Lovely words, Nan. It is great insight to know that the first step to increasing our ability to listen to others is to learn to listen to ourselves with compassion and understanding. The quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one of my favorites. Lovely words, Nan. It is great insight to know that the first step to increasing our ability to listen to others is to learn to listen to ourselves with compassion and understanding. The quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one of my favorites.

]]> Comment on Say What You Need to Say by Nancy http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/07/15/say-what-you-need-to-say/#comment-1799 Nancy Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:08:54 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=1011#comment-1799 Separation. The way we have handled things so far in life, has brought us to where we are today..in business...politics....our world...often sensing such a gulf between us and others....a lack of communication, compassion and understanding. If feeling separated and divided is not working for us anymore, then something different has to be done. We first have to come to the end of our own personal roads before we are willing to go down... perhaps....the road less traveled.. and be willing to approach situations differently. Where we are today, remember, is a result of what we have done so far. Often we first have to address the feelings of separation or alienation within ourselves....our own inner conflicts.... before we are willing to even listen about the differences or conflict between ourselves and others. "Peace...no battles within that need to be fought without.... How often when we have turmoil and unrest within, we search without for a scapegoat upon whom we can project that turmoil and unrest." Listen then...first to ourselves and our own inner conflicts, connect with those situations...live in their solution...and then we will be able to bring peace to "the conference table of life" and have the willingness to listen to others. Someone has to be the one to put down the emotional guns and stop the battle. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "If we could read [listen to] the secret history of our enemies [within or without], we should find in each man's [woman's] life such pain and suffering to disarm all hostility." First listen to ourselves with compassion and understanding. We will then be more equipped to bring a willingness to listen to others, and resolve our feelings of separation. Listening is the "bridge of hope" that spans the gap of separation that is within ourselves and with others. Separation. The way we have handled things so far in life, has brought us to where we are today..in business…politics….our world…often sensing such a gulf between us and others….a lack of communication, compassion and understanding. If feeling separated and divided is not working for us anymore, then something different has to be done. We first have to come to the end of our own personal roads before we are willing to go down… perhaps….the road less traveled.. and be willing to approach situations differently. Where we are today, remember, is a result of what we have done so far.

Often we first have to address the feelings of separation or alienation within ourselves….our own inner conflicts…. before we are willing to even listen about the differences or conflict between ourselves and others. “Peace…no battles within that need to be fought without…. How often when we have turmoil and unrest within, we search without for a scapegoat upon whom we can project that turmoil and unrest.”

Listen then…first to ourselves and our own inner conflicts, connect with those situations…live in their solution…and then we will be able to bring peace to “the conference table of life” and have the willingness to listen to others. Someone has to be the one to put down the emotional guns and stop the battle.

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “If we could read [listen to] the secret history of our enemies [within or without], we should find in each man’s [woman's] life such pain and suffering to disarm all hostility.” First listen to ourselves with compassion and understanding. We will then be more equipped to bring a willingness to listen to others, and resolve our feelings of separation.

Listening is the “bridge of hope” that spans the gap of separation that is within ourselves and with others.

]]> Comment on The Courage of Followers by Erik Van Slyke http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/07/10/the-courage-of-followers/#comment-1798 Erik Van Slyke Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:22:01 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=1067#comment-1798 Thanks, Heather, for your comment. It's fun to see that this video is getting so much discussion one year after it went viral. One crazy dancing guy can truly change the world! Here is another <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU7dxkIz1Vs&feature=related" rel="nofollow">version</a> that shows just how persistent his leadership effort was and how many attempts at following took place before the movement was created. This longer version shows not only the importance of #3, as Seth points out, but also how critical it is for leaders to stay true to their vision. Keep up your good work! I enjoy your <a href="http://www.enclaria.com/" rel="nofollow">writing </a>and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/enclaria" rel="nofollow">Tweets</a>. Thanks, Heather, for your comment. It’s fun to see that this video is getting so much discussion one year after it went viral. One crazy dancing guy can truly change the world! Here is another version that shows just how persistent his leadership effort was and how many attempts at following took place before the movement was created. This longer version shows not only the importance of #3, as Seth points out, but also how critical it is for leaders to stay true to their vision.

Keep up your good work! I enjoy your writing and Tweets.

]]> Comment on The Courage of Followers by Heather Stagl http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/07/10/the-courage-of-followers/#comment-1796 Heather Stagl Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:25:49 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=1067#comment-1796 Erik, Your post reminded me of this Seth Godin post (including video) of the importance of the first couple of followers: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/guy-3.html Heather Erik,

Your post reminded me of this Seth Godin post (including video) of the importance of the first couple of followers: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/guy-3.html

Heather

]]> Comment on Lead Like a Great Conductor by Erik Van Slyke http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/06/18/lead-like-a-great-conductor/#comment-1791 Erik Van Slyke Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:48:55 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=964#comment-1791 Thanks, Amy! I, too, found Talgam's presentation inspiring. It's amazing to see these principles applied by leaders and to watch as two gentle tools--listening and encouraging--create such marvelous results. Thanks, Amy! I, too, found Talgam’s presentation inspiring. It’s amazing to see these principles applied by leaders and to watch as two gentle tools–listening and encouraging–create such marvelous results.

]]> Comment on Lead Like a Great Conductor by amy saunders http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/06/18/lead-like-a-great-conductor/#comment-1789 amy saunders Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:46:21 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=964#comment-1789 very inspiring post eric, really makes you think differently, more open! very inspiring post eric, really makes you think differently, more open!

]]> Comment on Despots, Group Think and the Ugly Side of Institutional Optimism by Erik Van Slyke http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/06/11/despots-group-think-and-the-ugly-side-of-institutional-optimism/#comment-1778 Erik Van Slyke Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:29:37 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=918#comment-1778 Thanks, Amy! Dropped shoulders, deep sighs and pursed lips are almost a universal expression the moment execs realize the "time, commitment, courage and perseverance" it will take to create deep change, aren't they? It's also a wonderful moment when they decide to take the first step down the road less traveled. It's great to know they have support like you to help them walk the path. Wonderful to see you as well! Erik Thanks, Amy! Dropped shoulders, deep sighs and pursed lips are almost a universal expression the moment execs realize the “time, commitment, courage and perseverance” it will take to create deep change, aren’t they? It’s also a wonderful moment when they decide to take the first step down the road less traveled. It’s great to know they have support like you to help them walk the path.

Wonderful to see you as well!

Erik

]]> Comment on Despots, Group Think and the Ugly Side of Institutional Optimism by Amy http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/06/11/despots-group-think-and-the-ugly-side-of-institutional-optimism/#comment-1776 Amy Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:25:26 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=918#comment-1776 Hey Erik, Well written! And so true. My experiences as a relationship coach and therapist are at times similar to yours with the "twitchy exec". Often people know but don't want to know what it will really take to make a deep change. I like the distinction you make between “completing the project” or “achieving the real results.” I believe that deep change takes time, commitment, courage and perseverance. Great to see you at HWS. ~Amy Hey Erik,

Well written! And so true. My experiences as a relationship coach and therapist are at times similar to yours with the “twitchy exec”. Often people know but don’t want to know what it will really take to make a deep change. I like the distinction you make between “completing the project” or “achieving the real results.” I believe that deep change takes time, commitment, courage and perseverance.

Great to see you at HWS.
~Amy

]]> Comment on The Joy of Failure by You’re Not a Leader Until They Perform « Erik Van Slyke http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/03/24/the-joy-of-failure/#comment-1767 You’re Not a Leader Until They Perform « Erik Van Slyke Fri, 14 May 2010 05:29:47 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=696#comment-1767 [...] For example, researchers studying the impact of learning environments on cognitive skills have discovered that students who over an extended period of time are treated as if they are intelligent actually become so.  If they are taught demanding content, and are expected to explain and find connections as well as memorize and repeat, they learn more and learn more quickly. They think of themselves as learners. They are able to bounce back in the face of short-term failures. [...] [...] For example, researchers studying the impact of learning environments on cognitive skills have discovered that students who over an extended period of time are treated as if they are intelligent actually become so.  If they are taught demanding content, and are expected to explain and find connections as well as memorize and repeat, they learn more and learn more quickly. They think of themselves as learners. They are able to bounce back in the face of short-term failures. [...]

]]> Comment on The Trouble With Layoffs by You’re Not a Leader Until They Perform « Erik Van Slyke http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/2010/02/18/the-trouble-with-layoffs/#comment-1766 You’re Not a Leader Until They Perform « Erik Van Slyke Fri, 14 May 2010 05:29:40 +0000 http://erikvanslyke.solleva.com/?p=496#comment-1766 [...] And in the case of most companies, especially in the era of constant “restructuring” (see The Trouble with Layoffs), it rarely is [...] [...] And in the case of most companies, especially in the era of constant “restructuring” (see The Trouble with Layoffs), it rarely is [...]

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