Category Archives: Leadership

Howard Thurman’s Christmas

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Tom Nees

I’m struggling to find The Mood of Christmas that Howard Thurman (1899-1981), the prominent African American author, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader, wrote about in 1973.    The election turmoil with its uncertain aftermath makes it difficult to focus on … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Reviews, Serving | 5 Comments

Election Fears and Hopes

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Tom Nees

Two days after the election I joined with a group of friends, men and women, in Washington, D.C., to discuss our fears and hopes.  We were more interested in listening to one another than arguing about the uncertain future.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Trends | 2 Comments

Intelligent Disobedience – Learning From Guide Dogs

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Tom Nees

In Ira Chaleff’s 2015 book Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You’re Told To Do Is Wrong, ‘intelligent disobedience’ in guide dogs is a metaphor for an important but often overlooked behavior pattern for humans. A guide dog trainer told … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Reviews | 1 Comment

Living and Leading in a Tribal Way

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Tom Nees

We live in a country ‘at war with itself’ writes war correspondent Sebastian Junger in  Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging. The battle lines are everywhere—political gridlock and the most divisive presidential campaign in modern times, the widening wealth gap, worsening … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 4 Comments

‘The Poor Who Love Trump’

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Tom Nees

If you don’t have time to read the Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, I recommend Jennifer Senior’s NY Times review of J. D. Vance’s new bestseller – ‘A Compassionate Analysis of the Poor Who Love … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 6 Comments

We Must Not Be Enemies

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Tom Nees

“We must not be enemies” – from President Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address Following last week’s horrific violence it seems that we are like a ship without a rudder.   There is no national consensus about what to think or to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Trends | 5 Comments

Doing Small Things With Great Love

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Tom Nees

In response to my last blog – “The Inner Life of Leaders,” Gary Morsch posted this comment: Your post reminds me of a quote from Mother Teresa: “We’re not called to success, but to faithfulness.” Mother Teresa will be canonized on … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 2 Comments

The Inner Life Of Leaders

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Tom Nees

Parker Palmer’s Center for Courage & Renewal is offering a 6-month program to ‘explore the inner life of leadership.’ I have learned that in their reflective moments good leaders are more interested in their inner life or self-awareness than how … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 3 Comments

On Leaving Our Comfort Zones

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Tom Nees

During my first pastoral assignment at a rural church in Eastern Washington State we lived near a stop for freight trains.   Transients riding the rails would occasionally hop off trains, walk across the road to our house, knock on our … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 4 Comments

Of Covenant Leaders

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Tom Nees

I thought about the difference between covenant and contract leaders when reading David Brooks’ recent NY Times column – “How Covenants Make Us.” Contracts are about making deals, providing services, protecting interests.   They are temporary quid pro quo obligations; precise and … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 2 Comments