Leadership as an Agency of Assistance and Easement, Part Three
Leadership as an Agency of Assistance and Easement, Part Three

Aviv Shahar with Theodora Papanastasatou, Perry Martin, Jane Goodman, and Liz Halter

January 7, 2022
unlocking potential
We’re looking at the many practices and simple ways that enable a person to demonstrate leadership – to themselves and to others, perhaps as individuals or as part of a group or community. What enables the people you see around you to promote and facilitate the best in themselves and in others? What other aspects of leadership can we observe that have a significant impact on the lives of people around us?

Self-leadership is in recognizing and allowing ourselves to be who and where we are, acknowledging the journey to learn what we didn’t know before. Self-leadership is sometimes described as radical honesty and transparency, without which we cannot actually create and unlock true learning potential.

Part of the emerging picture of leadership is a nuanced

conversation about collaboration and competition. Are they indeed polarities, or is there a way to integrate competition as part of the sport of collaboration? It’s a conundrum we don’t need to resolve, but instead follow the inquiry and explore whether we have experienced the competitive spirit as an encouragement to bring forward our best.
There's self-competition, you can call it, which is healthy. That's where the learning happens. That's where the exploration happens. That's where I can say, “Oh, I've made a mistake.” Or I can apologize for something I did that really isn't the standard I want to uphold. These are examples where if you can be alive and vulnerable with other people, it's a type of leadership.
Jane Goodman

Jane Goodman

Jane Goodman

From the time of childhood I've been driven to understand how the human was meant to be.

This has guided me in knowing how to interact in this world. The inroads I continue to explore are through the sciences of behaviors and ways of giving service to others, which  build filaments of qualities that nourish the tree of humanity rooted in the purpose of life.

Some of the branches that have been nurtured are community, leadership and meaningful communication.

Perry Martin

Perry Martin

The theme of being a representative of the hopes and dreams of those lives whom have gone before became a constant companion to me, as it became clear that I may be unique in all the world, but never would my life be alone. We are dependent on each other as a humanity

This taught me a very deep lesson: a human's life is not to be lived for only one purpose, but can fulfill many purposes. And ever-refining new purpose can reveal itself - if one is open. We, after all, are a multi-faceted assembly of many lives.

Liz Halter

Liz Halter

I have always loved being outdoors in nature, in gardens, feeling the wonder looking up at the stars. This came hand in hand with a close affinity to the Native Americans and their respect and honor for the planet and nature, the elements and the seasons.

Another level of this passion has been a lifelong quest to find the way of the natural human.  I found that there is a tendency to want to go back to the earth, or to the ways of the ancients. While there is certainly wisdom to be carried forward, it isn’t really possible to go back, and it isn’t really the answer.

We need new ways for new times and I believe we as humans are equipped to discover the ways that will allow us to live authentically, in harmony, with purpose and hope in today’s world.

Aviv Shahar

Aviv Shahar

Aviv is the Founder of Aviv Consulting, helping leaders unleash strategic innovation, and is the author of Create New Futures: How Leaders Produce Breakthroughs and Transform the World Through Conversation.