We have learned, at VIM Executive Coaching, that life’s lessons on executive leadership can be found most anywhere. Perhaps that is why we have heard so many stories originating from Japan, where executive leaders have cherished long-term business relationships with custodians and factory workers.
Those relationships were not only based on loyalty and service, but also coming out of mindfulness, where executives were open to actively listening and sharing.
Mindfulness should not necessarily focus only on communication between those in the “C-Suite,” but of being aware enough, and savvy enough to communicate and learn from everyone. Sadly, far too many leaders lose touch with those who have worked to make great companies really great. In these times of sweeping change, no leader can afford (and we choose that word with intention) to stop placing value on everyone.
The Docent
The gem and mineral collection of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science is, to us, a wondrous place. Not far from the VIM Coaching Denver office, the museum’s collection of minerals and crystals in their natural, mined state, is breathtaking. In fact, many of the finds come from this region.
The entire collection is, we suppose, a geologist’s dream.
It was against that backdrop that we had a casual conversation with a docent who had volunteered at the museum for several years. A tall, older gentleman with a pleasing smile, he clearly enjoyed his role and readily shared his knowledge about the collection and the museum.
As we passed an impressive display of turquoise-veined rocks, the question of “value” came to mind as we’re sure happens a hundred times a day.
“How much are some of these rocks worth?”
The docent carefully answered that as “precious gems,” some of the rocks were not of exceptional value.
“What makes the mineral collection valuable, whether the display of Turquoise or Malachite or Amethyst or any other, is its diversity.”
For he pointed to the interesting variations within each stone. Some Turquoise had gold streaks, some silver, some black, some red. The minerals within each mineral gave each mined piece an exceptional quality.
Indeed, each display was breathtaking in terms of its variation, and what made some fascinating wasn’t their potential to be stuck on a setting, but to be seen as a dull-gray rock that inexplicably sprouted a ruby or emerald.
Other displays were mind-boggling in the immensity of the piece of crystal; others were at first, nondescript, but took on fascinating hues or unusual shapes as the light played on their geometric shapes.
A metaphor of course
The gem docent is, of course, a metaphor for leadership. When those in organizations are unacceptably over-valued (sometimes to the point of adoration) or under-valued (sometimes to the point of diminishing their loyalty and/or contributions), the organization suffers.
The mindful executive who on a daily basis cultivates their awareness of everyone around them, must value authenticity and compassion over ego.
Mindfulness prescribes and nurtures an appreciation for the contributions of everyone who makes an organization work. We don’t know which gemstone was the most valuable in the collection and perhaps it didn’t matter. What does matter is that the diversity of the collection was infinitely more impressive than any individual specimen.