Category Archives: Leadership

‘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 →

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A Pathway Out of Homelessness and Poverty

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Tom Nees

Having spent over 20 years (1973 to 1995) helping to provide transitional housing for homeless families in Washington, D.C. I was eager to read Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond’s narrative of low-income individuals and families … Continue reading →

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Balancing Life and Work

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Tom Nees

Adam LaRoache walked away from a $13 million contract with the Chicago White Sox last week rather than submit to the club’s request that he not bring his 14-year old son Drake with him so often. During his 4 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 4 Comments

Transactional vs. Relational Leaders

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Tom Nees

Transactional leaders exchange what they do for you for what you can do for them, e.g., politicians – ‘if you vote for me I’ll do this for you.’ Relational leaders prefer to give more than they receive. Transactional leaders measure … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 5 Comments

What Kind Of Leaders Do We Want?

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Tom Nees

                  illustration by Nisant Choksi THE NEW YORKER, FEBRUARY 29, 2016 The surprising emergence of Donald Trump as a viable presidential candidate reveals the kind of leader for President a significant segment … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 4 Comments