The Wisdom of

Robert Quinn

Bob Quinn is a noted educator and consultant working with business and government leaders to understand and manage organizational life. He has written several books including Deep Change (Discovering the Leader Within) from which these quotes are taken. Bob is currently a Professor of organizational behavior and human resources management at the University of Michigan. The Wisdom of Robert Quinn.pdf

The Wisdom of

Margaret Wheatley

Margaret Wheatley is a noted author, educator and consultant. Her doctoral work at Harvard focused on organizational behavior and change. She continued this interest in the writing of Leadership and the New Science (Learning about Organizations for an Orderly Universe), an award winning book. She helped to found the Berkana Institute, a charitable scientific, educational, and research foundation founded in 1991 and currently serves as its President. Berkana experiments with many forms of inquiry into the new ideas and structures that represent the future of organizing.To give you a sense of Margaret's broad perspective, I offer the following personal quote from her website, "I have always found my attention drawn in many different directions, from science, to history, to English literature, to systems thinking, to organizational behavior, to social policy. I value what I've learned from each of these different fields, because no one discipline, institution, or specialization can answer the questions that now confront us. We all must draw from many different perspectives to reweave the world. The Wisdom of Margaret Wheatley.pdf

The Wisdom of

Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall spent her early formative years in the safety of a loving family yet in the midst of the London Blitz. As a child her love for God and nature were deeply intertwined. As a young adult, she had the life changing opportunity to work with Louis Leakey in his famous archeological work in Africa. Leakey spotted a passion and freshness in her and gave her an assignment that would forever frame her life. She grew into adulthood in the forests of Gombe, observing chimpanzees with great compassion and intimacy. In return, these unique creatures gave her unique perspectives into humans, stewardship and hope  The Wisdom of Jane Goodall.pdf

The Wisdom of

Robert Frost

Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech.[1] His work frequently employed themes from the early 1900s rural life in New England, using the setting to examine complex social and philosophical themes. A popular and often-quoted poet, Frost was honored frequently during his lifetime, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.   

The poem “Directive” was a favorite of Robert Greenleaf and appear in chapter 11 of Greenleaf’s book Servant Leadership.

The Wisdom of

Myles Horton

Myles Horton was born in 1905 and died in 1990. He grew up and lived most of his adult life in the hills of Tennessee. In 1932, he founded the Highlander School as an experiment in adult education. This controversial school worked closely with the union movement and then assumed a significant role in helping to develop civil rights leaders. A plain spoken man, Myles believed that education arising within the people and centered on their problems of life led to action. He is now seen as one of the foremost adult educators of this century. The school is still active and can be accessed on the web here. The Wisdom of Myles Horton.pdf

The Wisdom of

Jane Dutton

Jane Dutton is a professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. She is also a co-founder of the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship which is focused on understanding what fosters flourishing in and of work organizations. (See www.bus.umich.edu/Positive.) Jane’s research explores how organizational conditions strengthen capabilities of individuals and firms.  In particular, she examines how high quality connections, positive meaning and emotions contribute to individuals and organizational strengths.  Her research has explored compassion and organizations, resilience and organizations, as well as energy and organizations. The Wisdom of Jane Dutton.pdf

The Wisdom of

Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss, as we have come to know him, was born in 1904 and died in 1991. He gifted us with 42 world famous books written for children of all ages. He befuddled our minds, touched our hearts and challenged our conventional wisdom. He was a life long student of human nature, both as it was and as it could be. The Wisdom of Dr Seuss.pdf

The Wisdom of

Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher and reputed founder of Daoism was born somewhere between 490 and 570 BC. According to tradition, he is the author of the Daodejing (Tao-te Ching) (Classic of the Way and Its Virtue), a philosophical treatise. By far the most translated Chinese literary work; this small book has had an enormous influence on Chinese thought and culture. The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.pdf

The Wisdom of

Bill Drath

Bill Drath is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC. Over the course of thirty years at CCL, Bill established the publications function, founded the periodical now known as Leadership in Action, was on the team that did the research behind CCL's Awareness Program for Executive Excellence, and helped develop the original version of the Looking Glass Experience program. The Wisdom of Bill Drath.pdf

The Wisdom of

Marian Wright Edelman

Mrs. Edelman, a graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law School, began her career in the mid-60s when, as the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, she directed the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund office in Jackson, Mississippi. In l968, she moved to Washington, D.C., as counsel for the Poor People's Campaign that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began organizing before his death. She founded the Washington Research Project, a public interest law firm and the parent body of the Children's Defense Fund. For two years she served as the Director of the Center for Law and Education at Harvard University and in 1973 began CDF.

She has written eight books: Families in Peril: An Agenda for Social Change; The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours; Guide My Feet: Meditations and Prayers on Loving and Working for Children; Stand for Children; Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors; Hold My Hand: Prayers for Building a Movement to Leave No Child Behind; I'm Your Child, God: Prayers for Our Children; and I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children. The Wisdom of Marian Wright Edelman.pdf

The Wisdom of

Ann McGee-Cooper

"Bold dreams" - those are the words frequently associated with Ann McGee-Cooper. She has followed them throughout her life and has become quite adept at helping others find and realize their own. Painter, gardener, architect, professor, consultant, lecturer, tap dancer, student, theologian, author, dreamer and brain engineer. You can't spend time with Ann and not learn. She teaches by example. In her approach to the business of AMCA, Inc., she practices what we teach. Ann designed her team's creative work space, "The Tree House," and the water gardens around it. She describes it as a garden for the imagination. And, like all of Ann's endeavors, it's energizing, bright, fun, inviting and it works. The Wisdom of Ann McGee-Cooper.pdf

The Wisdom of

Max DePree

Every generation has its grouping of distinguished leaders that contributes to shaping their field of expertise. Max De Pree is one such leader.  He is perhaps best known for his work as the CEO of Herman Miller, Inc.  Herman Miller was founded by his father D. J. De Pree, who ran the company until the early 1960’s, when Max and his brother Hugh assumed responsibility for its leadership.  During his tenure, Herman Miller became one of the most profitable Fortune 500 companies. From 1975 – 1986 it ranked seventh in terms of total return to investors.  But what Max is perhaps most proud of was the manner in which his beliefs were incorporated into the organizational culture.  They instituted the Scanlon Plan, a program that encouraged and rewarded employee participation.  Building the business on a foundation of trust and integrity, Herman Miller worked with some of the design world’s greats and earned the respect and admiration of such design icons as Ray and Charles Eames, and George Nelson.  This goes a long way in explaining how a company in Zeeland, Michigan, was able to establish itself as a no-compromise, innovative design firm that produced beautiful modern furniture.  The result of his body of work earned Max De Pree a place in Fortune magazine’s National Business Hall of Fame. The Wisdom of Max Depree.pdf

The Wisdom of

Parker Palmer

A writer, teacher, and activist, Parker Palmer is known for his work in education, spirituality and social change in institutions including schools, community organizations, primary, secondary and higher education, and business and corporations. His writing has earned numerous awards and citations and has been translated into several languages. His work has been cited in the major voices in the media, including National Public Radio, the New York Times, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He travels extensively as a speaker, facilitator, and workshop and retreat leader. Every generation has its grouping of distinguished leaders that contributes to shaping their field of expertise. The Wisdom of Parker Palmer.pdf