Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
This article is cached in the usual Harvard Business Review 'leadership' dogma, but behind the facade is a set of principles for good living that would apply to any of us, not just 'leaders'. They are virtues I strive to cultivate, however imperfectly, in my own life (Harvard's list with my annotations):
- humility - or more accurately, empathy - genuine caring for others
- intellectual curiosity - the recognition of the unknown and the desire to explore it
- optimism - and more, not giving into despair, defeat and setbacks
- vulnerability - knowing what you can't do and asking for help
- authenticity - being truthful, frank and honest
- generosity - doing things because they help others, not because they'll repay you
- openness - being willing to receive as well as to share
As HBR says, "are hard to master, and can also be at odds with leadership authority." That's why we seldom see them expressed by people in positions of power, but also why we should see them more.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 07:11 a.m.

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