Our leaders did it!

Posted by Ann Deaton Share Your Voice

I do some contracting for a leadership development program in our federal government so last week I received a call. The message left was that in the event of a government shutdown, I had been designated as "non-essential personnel and should not report to work on Monday." I have to admit to having mixed feelings about the label "non-essential" but in this domain, I recognize that there are many many people who are central and essential to the running of our country.

Those essential people stepped up on Friday and averted a shutdown! According to an article in the Chicago Tribune yesterday, they found ways to communicate their perspective, and listen to that of others. They negotiated when it made no sense to dig in their heels and stood their ground when something needed saying. Kudos to our leaders! A job well done to set egos largely aside and consider the greater good of all.

Reference:

Kathleen Hennessey, Lisa Mascaro, & Peter Nicholas. (2011, April 10). D.C. gamesmanship to the wire: Amid tensions, leaders worked to build trust and avert federal shutdown. Chicago Tribune, p. 21.  Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Chicago Tribune.

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Ann Deaton I am a leadership coach, and Managing Partner in Bounce. I love to coach and facilitate with individuals and systems experiencing significant change and growth. The clients I work with, regardless of their age or position, are talented and creative individuals willing to look with fresh eyes at their challenges and opportunities, and to take action based on their discoveries. As a result, they find that they are capable of accomplishing far greater things than they ever imagined. What do you want to accomplish today? Who do you want to be?