Inspire! What Great Leaders Do The Path to Higher Ground Leadership Transforming People and Organizations

By Lance Secretan

Presented by: Renee Carriere

EADM 826.3 Drs. Bayles and Walker

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“Authenticity is the alignment of head, mouth, ear, and feet–thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing–consistently. This builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust,” Lance Secretan.

Lance H.K. Secretan was born in 1939. He is perhaps best known for his work in leadership theory and how to inspire teams. From 1967 to 1980 Mr. Secretan was the Managing Director of Manpower Limited, based in the United Kingdom. Between 1980 and 1985, he taught leadership at McMaster and York University in Canada. Since then he has worked as an author, consultant and leadership coach. His company, The Secretan Centre, is a consulting organization committed to changing the world by bringing greater spirituality and higher values to the workplace. Its cause is: To Change the World by Reawakening Spirit and Values in the Workplace.

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Chapter One – Change: 

Thebook Inspire beginswithseveralcontemplativeprinciples.Iincludedfourcentralideasand

myowndefinitionssothatthereadermayquicklyfocusinontheunderpinningsofInspire!

1. Paradigm:yourphilosophicallifeframework.

2. Destiny:yourfuture.

3. Cause:Aprincipleyouholdhigh.

4. Calling:Thekindofworkyoushouldbedoing.

InthefirstchapterofthebookInspire,theauthorLanceSecretanlaysoutthefoundationof

whathecallsOldStoryLeadershipversusNewStoryLeadership.Secretanwritesthatweall

willbecalledupontobealeaderatsomepointinourlivesandthereforeweneedtochange

thewaywelead.Hesuggestswecreateourownauthenticparadigmandnotliveinaparadigm

thatwascreatedbyothers.Havingyourownparadigm,writingyourDestiny,Cause,and

CallingisthebasisofwhatLanceSecretancallsHigherGroundLeadership.ThetermHigher

GroundLeadershipbecomestheendpointofthebookandisastyleofleadershipgroundedin

beingauthenticandfromtheheart.HesayswhenothersfeelyouareauthenticinyourCause,

theyareinspiredtofollowyou.

Secretanposesthequestion:whattypeofleaderdoyouwanttobe?Hesaysyoucanbea

leaderthatisnottrustedandnooneiscommittedto.OryoucanbeaHigherGroundLeader

thatinspiresotherstofollow;youcanbeapeoplewhisperer.Hebelievesweneedthe

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qualitiesofaction,love,andcommitmenttoservingothersinordertocreateanewstoryof

leadershipforourselves.ThefollowingtableoutlineshiscomparisonsbetweenOldStory

LeadershipandNewStoryLeadership.

                       Old Story Leadership Is                                  New Story Leadership Is

Being Doing

WithoutHeart

WithHeart

Unconscious Conscious

Controlled Liberated

Fearful

Loving

Unauthentic Authentic

Hesummarizesthatthewaytoinspiringleadershipistobeginbycreatingyourownparadigm

thatisauthenticandbasedinloveandthatthisiscriticaltocreatinganewstoryofleadership.

Hemaintainsthatchangeofanythingisdifficultandaskswhyischangesohard?Furtherinthe

chaptertheauthornotesseveralperceivedroadblockstochangeasfollows:

Changerequirescourage.

Creatinganewparadigmisintricate.

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Webelieveourwayistherightway.

Weareafraidtotakeactionortochallengethestatusquobecausewewanttofitin.

Wetalkaboutchangebutdonotactinauthenticways.

Wearealwayslookingtoeachothertoseewhowillleadorwhowillinitiateratherthan

beingthechange‐makers.

LanceSecretansuggestsweneednotbestuckintheOldStoryofLeadershipandinaparadigm

thatwascreatedbyothers.Hepointsoutthatwhenweembracechange,weinitiateactionto

findourpathwayfromourhearttoHigherGroundLeadership.“Wemustbethechangewe

wishtoseeintheworld,”MahatmaGandhi.

 

Chapter Two ‐ Difficulties in Changing:  Thischapterremindsustobetheinspirerofpeoplenotofresults.Theauthorsaysthatwhen

leaderslovewhattheydoandarevalues‐basedpeoplewhopracticewhattheysay,that

followerswilldoeverythingtoseethattheirleaderssucceed.Secretanbelieveseachperson

mustdefinehisorherspirit.Onceindividualsunderstandwho

theyareandcreatetheirownparadigmtheywillbegintolead

fromlove.Hesaysthatgoingfromaninternalplaceofdepletion

toaplaceofabundancewillinspirefollowers.Leadingfroma

placeoffeartoleadingfromaplaceoflove,orashesays,

“Commonvalueswillencourage followshipandthatlovenotfearinspirespeopletofollowa

leader.”Hewondersareyoualeaderoftheoldoraleaderofthenew?

                                          

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely,” Karen Kaiser Clark.

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Furthermore,henotesthatweyearnforacommunityofbelonging.Whetherthatcommunity

isof family,school,students,business,orcommunity itself.HigherGroundLeadershipmeans

buildingrelationships.Relationshipbuildingisfoundationalforahappylife.Therefore,Itisthe

attendingtorelationshipsthatSecretanbelieveswilllettheindividualtoliveingrace,serveand

honouroneanotheranditinspiresfollowers.

  Chapters Three and Four ‐ Understanding and Writing Your Destiny Statement:  

ThesechapterscentreontheauthorSecretan’sdiscussiononhowtobeginthepathtobeinga

HigherGroundLeader.TheauthorstatesthataHigherGroundLeadermustfirsthavean

intimaterelationshipwiththeirDestiny,theirCause,andtheirCallinginordertoleadfromtheir

heart.HesaysinordertobeatrustedandauthenticleaderonemustknowtheirDestiny,

Cause,andCalling.Henamesthesethreesoulpiecesasthecornerstonestoservingothersand

toHigherGroundLeadership.YourDestiny,Secretansays,isyourdivinepurposeandhewrites,

“HigherGroundLeadershipisthepracticeofinspiringothersbasedonyourauthentic

awarenessofyourDestiny.”

 

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Therefore,ifwetaketimetounderstandandwriteourDestiny,itwillhelpustocreateourown

paradigmandbeginourpathtochange.Heisfirminthatlifeisabouthavingthecourageto

makechange.Whenweunderstandourinnerselfonlythencanwebeaninspirationtoothers

andhavethemfollowusinourCause.Hebelievesonemusttakeactionandnotjusttalkabout

makingchange.ThefinalpartofChapterFourgivesconcreteexamplesofhowtothinkofand

writeyourownDestinystatement.“Itisnotinthestarstoholdourdestinybutinourselves.”

WilliamShakespeare.

Chapters Five and Six ‐ Naming Your Sacred Cause: 

ThesechaptersdiscusswhyandhowittakescouragetonameyourCause.Secretansaysthat

choosingwhatyoustandforinlifetakescourageandtime.ThatwritingyourCauseispartofa

cycle.OnceyouunderstandyourpersonalDestiny,Cause,andCallingyouarethenontheroad

tobeinganauthenticleaderthatotherswillbeinspiredtofollow.Hewritesthatwewillall

leadinlife.Theauthorsays,“ServantLeadersaretheoneswelove,theoneswhoteachwith

love.Theyaretheoneswholistenandhonourusdeepwithintheirsouls.ServantLeadersare

thepeoplewhisperers.”Theauthorstressesthatwhenanindividualispassionateabouttheir

Causethatthepassionwillinviteotherstofollow.

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YourDestinydescribeswhyyouarehere.Causeishowyouwillbeinyourlifetoachieveyour

Destiny.Callingiswhatyouwilldo.HigherGroundLeadershipisawaytoserveothersthrough

courage,authenticity,truth,love,andinspiration.“YourCauseistakingyourdreamfromreality

totheimaginedfuture,”saystheauthorLanceSecretan.

LanceSecretanhighlightstheimportanceoftheconceptofsacredness.Heusesthiswordin

connectiontorelationshipsandbehaviours.Iseeitinconnectiontoplace.Weallhavea

sacredplacetogotointimesofchangeorturmoil.Thesacredplacemaybeunderthestairs,

atyourdesk,orsittingonyourspecialrocklookingupatthestars.Itisplacewegotowhenwe

needtofindsolace.Asacredplaceiswhereourheartis.Viewingplaces,ourwork,and

relationshipsassacredmustberecognized.Ifwebegintoseethesacrednessinrelationships

thenassociationsbetweenteachersandstudentsorparentsandchildrenmaybegintobemore

lovingandinspireotherstodoremarkablethings.Secretandirectsustobesacredinallthat

Higher Ground

Leadership

Calling

Cause

Destiny

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wedo.Hewrites,“Dedicateyourlifetotheserviceofothers.Valuetheirdreamsand

aspirationsandtheywilllaydowntheirlivesforyou.”Thisseemsaloftygoalbuttopractice

livinglifewithlovingactionsisattainable.

 Chapter Seven ‐ A Calling: 

Doesyourpathinlifehaveheart?Secretanoffersthattohaveheartforwhatyoudoisin

actualityyoufollowingyourCalling.Hesuggestsyouneedtoliveanauthenticlifeand

understandthatwhenyouserveothersyoucantransformyourworkintoyourCalling.When

youunderstandyourCalling,thelinesbetweenyourpersonallifeandworklifebecomeblurred.

Hewrites,thatdailypracticescanonlybeauthenticiffirstyouareinspiredandpassionate

aboutyourself.Hesaysthatonemustserveothersfromaplaceofabundanceratherthan

depletionorfromaplaceofloveratherthanfear.Heasksthatyoureflectonwhatitmeansto

liveanauthenticlife.

ACallingmustbeauthentic,fullofyourpassion,highlightyourtalentsandgiftsandberelevant

toyourcause.ACallingisthechemistrybetweenpassionandtalent.Thischapterposes

questionsforyoutoconsiderasyoudiscoveranddefineyourpassion,talentandcalling.

HowwillIusemypassionandgiftstoserveothers?

WhatdoIlovetodo?

HowdoIwanttofeelaboutwhatIdo?

DoIvalueworkordoesitjustpaythebills?

DoIlovemywork?

WhenamImosthappyinmylife?

WhatamIdoingwhenIamhappiest?

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HowcanIturnthoseactivitiesintomylifework?

Whatisholdingmeback?

HowcanIovercomethoseobstacles?

Takingtimetoanswertheabovequestionsleadsyoutoself‐discoveryandarealhonestyin

whatyouaredoing.Itisinspiringtofollowtheprocessoutlinedinthebookandpavestheway

forsomelovingchangesinyourlife.

 

Chapter Eight ‐ Writing Your Calling Statement: 

Thischaptergivesexamplesofactualpeoples’Callingstatementsandhowtogoaboutcreating

yourownCallingStatement.

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                     LanceSecretandirectsthereadertothinkofactionverbsthatbestdescribeyourskillswhen

youareatyourverybestatworkandinlife.IchosephotographsthatbestdescribewhenIam

happiestandIfoundthismethodofself‐descriptionworkedforme.AsIselectedthe

photographsIfoundthatthephotosgavevoicetomyhappiestmoments.Theactionwordsof

living,action,andlovingcameeasiertomymindasIlookedatthephotos.Thiswasbetter

thanhavingmethinkaboutwritingoutmyCalling.Itwasthephotosthattoldthestoryofmy

Calling.

Thereisalsoachaptersectiononmeditationanditsimportancetoself‐reflection.Heargues

thatmeditationofferssomeindividualsamethodforindividualstocentrethemselvessothey

canfocusonself‐awareness.Meditationhenotesasbeingabletoteachsomehowtoletgoof

whatothersexpect.Itisawaytoexamineyourspiritualsideandtoaidyouinfindingyour

Calling.

     

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Chapters Nine and Ten ‐ Entwining Destiny, Cause, and Calling:  Anindividual’sDestiny,CauseandCallingcannotbeseparated.Aconnectionbetweenone’s

CallingandCauseislivedoutinone’sDestiny.YourCausemustberootedinsomethingnoble

andofhigherpurposeandthisinturnwillinspirefollowerstounderstandhowtheircallingsfit

intoahigherpurposeandthefulfilmentoftheirdestiny.ACallingispassion‐based.Entwining

one’sdestiny,Cause,andCallingrequiresyoutoliveyourlifewithpurpose.Therefore,to

followyourDestinyistounderstandwhyyouarehere.TofollowyourCause,istouseyour

giftstoserveothers.ToobserveyourCallingisseeinghowtheworldwillbeabetterplace

throughyouractions.

 

Chapter Eleven ‐ Followers who Serve: 

Chapterelevenoutlineswhatitmeanstohaveservingfollowers.Itstatesthatviolenceand

loveareoppositesandthatwhatwegiveasaleaderiswhatourfollowerswillgiveback.

Leaderswholeadwithlovewillhavefollowerswhowillservetheirleader.Whentheleaderis

theretoserveothers,andthefollowersareservingtheleader,thenatdifferenttimesweare

allleadingorfollowing.Thekeytoservantleadershipisboundintheideaofservingofothers.

Servantleadershipisbasedinthenotionthatloveinspireslovefromothers.Servingfollowers

believeintheirleadersandareacommittedcommunityoffamily.Thiscommunityoffamily

inspiresgrowth,development,health,safety,comfort,spiritandvalues.Thiscommunityof

familyissomethingthatweallseek.Thus,inspiringgreatleadersinspireservingfollowerswho

becomeourcommunityoffamily.

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Theauthorcontinuesinchapterelevenbyaskingthereader‐canyoubeakindleaderinstead

ofarightleader?Hegivesexamplesofhowtobeakindleaderthroughwhathedescribesas

sacredlistening.Hesaysthatsacredlisteningislisteningfromtheheart,notfromtheego.Itis

listeningfromthecoreandthatinspiresotherstobelieveinyourcause.

Lastly,SecretansaysthatHigherGroundLeadersmustunderstandtheircorevalues,andthen

developstrategiestopracticewhattheypreachbecauseactionsspeaklouderthanwords.

Chapters Twelve and Thirteen – Creating Environment:

ThesefinaltwochapterssumuptheimportanceofdefiningpersonalDestiny,Cause,and

Callingandaligningthemtogether.Next,hewritesthatwhenyouhavedefinedandaligned

yourself,arereadytoleadothersintofindingandmasteringtheirDestiny,Cause,andCalling.

Finally,SecretanoutlinesthesixprinciplesofHigherGroundLeadershipusingtheacronymof

CASTLE.

C is the courage to change.

A is for the commitment to authenticity.

S is to serve others.

T is for the truth and commitment to your Calling.

L is for the capacity to love in order to inspire others.

E is for you and all others to be effective in all aspects of life.

ThesesixprincipleshewritesserveasthetemplateforthosewhoseekouttheirpathtoHigher

GroundLeadership.

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Thelastpartofthischapterdiscussestheimportanceofcreatingabeautifulworkenvironment.

Itiswrittenthatinvestinginbeautymakesnourishesthesoul.Whenthesoulisnourished,the

worldwins.Concluding,Secretansummarizesthathavingaplaceofbeautyinspiresustoactin

lovingservice.Theauthorwritesthatcreatingabeautifulenvironmentencouragesinspired

followerswhointurninspiretheleader.Heremindsusthatwewillallleadatsometimeinour

lives.FollowshippertainstothosewhofollowHigherGroundLeaders.Lastly,HigherGround

Leadershipisservantleadershipanditincludes:thesharingofpower,thekeepingofpromises,

themodellingofsoulfulbehaviour,andseeingthesacrednessinallothers.

ThefollowingarehighlightsfromthebookInspire!

OldStoryLeadershipandNewStoryLeadership.

Bewillingtochange.

Anunderstandingofthesignificanceofwritingone’sDestiny,CauseandCalling.

Theimportanceoflivinganauthenticlife.

LeadingfromlovewillinspireotherstofollowyourCause.

HigherGroundLeadershiplanguageincludes:sacredness,divine,calling,joy,love,gifts,

servingothers.

Theimplicationofcreatingyourownparadigm.

Leadingfromtheheart.

AskinghowcanIserveothers?

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DefiningServantLeadership.

KnowingthatIwillbecalledupontoleadatsometime.

UnderstandingHigherGroundLeadership.

ReadingthisbookIbegantothinkcriticallyandreflectivelyaboutthewayIlookattheworld

andatleadership.Itencouragedmetomakechangesinmylife.Themanyquestionsposedin

thechaptersgavemepausetoconsidermypurposehereonEarth.ItisthefirsttimethatI

triedtoputmydestiny,cause,andcallingintowrittenwords.Ifoundtheprocesshumbling.I

believethatsomewillfindthevocabularyofthisbooktoospiritual.Admittedly,whenterms

suchasdivine,purpose,calling,andsacrednessareuseditmaymakesomeuncomfortable.

WordsareimportantasareactionsandIamnotclearastowhyitissochallengingforusto

practicelovingways.Tothinkthatservingothersisdivine.IknowthatIhavehadtotrulyfocus

onpositiveandlovingactions.IfoundthatthemoreIwasawareofmyactions,thatmy

thoughtsofmycolleagues,students,andfamilymembersallbecamemorepositive.Inturn,

theirresponsesandactionsbecamemorelovingandpositivetowardsme.Lovedoesinspire

love!

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DuringthechapterreadingsImadeseveraljournalnotesandchallengedmyselfdailytobe

positiveinmythoughtsandactions.IattemptedtopracticelovingactionsinhowIleadclasses

andhowIreacttocolleagues.Itooktimetoposequestionsfromthechapterstomyspouse,

ourchildren,familyandfriends.Theinspirationoflisteningwithsacrednesshasbeen

enlighteningforourfamilyandmyself.Icontinuetopracticethisnewwayofthinkingabout

listening.IamremindedthatIneedtobemindfulofwhatIsayanddo.Aswell,Ineedto

remembertorespondandactinlovingwaysbecauseactingwithloveinspireslovingresponses

andfollowers.

Toembraceotherwaysofseeingtheworldandtoreflectonmydestiny,mycauseandmy

callinghasbeenarawandintimateexperience.ItsupportswhatLanceSecretanstatesinthat

weneedtoleadfromtheheartandthinkofhowwecanserveothers.

IjustfinishedpilotingthenewGradeElevensciencecourse.ReadingInspire! What Great 

Leaders DopreparedmetocriticallyobservehowIthinkaboutleadershipandaboutwhattype

ofleaderIam.Itooktimetoexamineandoutlinemydestinyandcallingandbelievewithtime

Iwillhavecombinedmydestiny,calling,andmycause.Thisself‐reflectiveprocesshasbeen

invigoratingandhelpfulinmypersonalandworklife.IthasbeenhardtoaffirmthatwhatIdo

isimportant.Ialsofoundithardtosayyes,IlovewhatIdoandIbelieveIamgoodatit.

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Chapterssevenandelevenweresignificanttomeastheyposedimportantquestions.I

discoveredthatthemoreIfocusonlovingactionsandservingothersthemoreableIamto

helpothersseetheirgifts.Iagreethatwemustfirstknowwhoweareandunderstandour

groundingandourpurposebeforewecanbegintoleadothers.Ifwearegenuineand

authenticinourpracticeswewillinspireotherstoformulatetheirownpersonaldestiny,calling

andcause.Ibelievethatmyeyeshavebeenopenedtoconsiderotherwaysofunderstanding

leadership.Myblinderswereonatthebeginningofthiscourseandbeforereadingthisbook.I

claimedthatIwasnotaleaderandthatIdidnotwanttoleadbecauseIwasafraidofwhatit

meanttolead.Thebook,Inspire! What Great Leaders Do,encouragedmetodiscoverwhat

servantleadershipisandtodescribemyCalling.IdiscoveredIleadfromtheheartandIhopeto

serveothersininspiringthemtodiscovertheirdestiny,causeandcallinginlife.