Labyrinth and Leadership

Last evening I had the opportunity, as part of The Labyrinth Project, to be part of Dr. Crawford's Organizational Behaviour Class.  During the class every student had an opportunity to walk a Chartres Style labyrinth. We were guests at St Paul's United Methodist church who kindly let us use their labyrinth. It may seem a bit of stretch - labyrinths and organizational behavior?! But labyrinths are about being fully present and intentional about what we are doing - both of which apply to our working lives as well as our personal lives. Labyrinths speak to how we 'are' in the world, how we show up both to ourselves and to others. In order to lead others successfully we have to know who we are.

In the business world I imagine the 'maze' mindset may be more prevalent that the 'labyrinth' mindset.

Dr Crawford shared a valuable article Annmarie do Jong wrote on 'The Leadership Labyrinth (Journal of Leadership Studies, Volume 5, Number 2, 2011, 75-78). She states -

                   "Emphasizing the importance of living with questions,

                   rather than solving them is crucial in developing leaders

                   in the 21century. Living with questions may feel like being

                   lost in a maze., when in truth it is more about walking the labyrinth.

                   The courage to live with the questions, guiding people on their

                    journeys and becoming aware of our own contributions to the world

                    relies on a very important underlying principle - leaders need to

                    listen and practice dialogue in order to engage the critical questions

                   of the day" (75).

 

Before walking the labyrinth participants were encouraged to choose one of the following questions to focus on during their walk.

 Before Crossing the Threshold

 1. What inhibits me from being a leader?

        2. How does my leadership style empower others?

        3. What will I leave outside the labyrinth?

         4. What am I waiting for?

 Students were encouraged to be aware of their own reactions to the experience of the labyrinth - both physical, emotional and cognitive. Reactions were many and varied...processing time is required to go deeper. 

 

We ended that part of the class with a poem by Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion called Across Time .

                              

                               Across Time

 

                               Recipe for Depth

 

                               Take several experiences,

                                some scepticism,

                               a pinch of humor,

                               intermittent pondering,

                               a little amazement,

                                a well-worded question,

                               one heart opened as widely as possible

                               and willingness to think carefully. 

 

                                Mix as thoroughly as you can.

                                let sit for a good amount of time.

 

                                Uncover.

                                Use what awaits.

                                             (Pondering the Labyrinth, Pilgrim Press, 2003)