Leadership is Service

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You can learn a lot about leaders by the way they talk. Some leaders believe their position entitles them to demand respect and command others. These leaders talk about “being…

Inspire a Shared Vision

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Imagine a clear eyed, motivated leader traveling down a path towards a better future. Fueled by certainty they move swiftly, taking long strides and feeling more confident with each step,…

You’re Not A Superhero

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It’s easy to believe that leaders are superheroes — people with special powers who can swoop in to solve any problem quickly and with few consequences. The problem is, you’re not…

A Lesson in Local Governnment

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As a young professional, one of my mentors would ask, “Is this the hill you want to die on?” When something appears to be unjust or unfair, I speak up.…

Our Time with MCS

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Shafer Leadership Academy recently participated in the orientation for the newly installed Muncie Community Schools Board. Long-time Emergence facilitator, Pat Heiny, and I were invited to bookend the day’s activities…

Are You MindFULL or Mindful?

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My name is Mitch Isaacs, and I am overcommitted. I am the executive director of a nonprofit and serve as an officer for three of the five board of directors…

Eye Contact At The Community Pool

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I’m the president of my neighborhood association. It’s sounds like an honor but its little like being the subdivision RA.  Our neighborhood is known for our garage sale. Every spring…

Avoiding Mount Stupid

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Working at a leadership academy doesn’t mean I know everything about leadership. If anything, it means I know how much I don’t know about guiding others and advancing community. Living…

Measuring Messy People

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I love the Gallup Organization. As far as pollsters go, they have a long history of providing credible information, but that’s not what I love about them. I love Gallup…

Your Leaders Will Fail

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My 11 year old occasionally gets frustrated by his homework. He’s a bright kid, and that’s the problem. For as long as he’s been in school, school has come easy to…