Best Class Ever

Why in the world would a Leadership Snohomish County Class want to say that their class was the "Best class ever?"
How did we reach the point where this would be a distinctive character of each of the groups that participated?
Here are some random thoughts that may help answer this:
1. I heard about this course from a Chamber of Commerce meeting. The concept of developing community leaders by grouping together non-profits, students, businesses, and government seemed like an excellent way to get a diversity of thought and focus to achieve a common goal. So, I asked around and found several people at my workplace that had been part of the program. WOW!
I did not expect the response I got from them, overwhelmingly geniuine, heartfelt emotion of having been part of something that was greater than themselves.
2. So, I show up to this class with some mixed emotions. I am not sure how I will fit in, and what I will get out of it. And once again, WOW!
Within the first 2 hours of the meeting, I had the opportunity to meet with some amazing people. Conversation flowed smoothly, depth of character and breadth of thought was readily apparent each time I got the chance talk to someone new or relate to them in an exercise. I went home after the first day and could not contain my excitement. I explained to my wife and kids that I had been able to be in the company of people that "cared" about their community and wanted to make a difference, not because someone told them to do it, but because they wanted to do it.
3. And, coming into the next day it was time to get the group and see where our challenges would lie. The different aspects of the projects and what they could do for the comunity struck a chord with eveyone in the room. After having been in the first day, I knew there was no way to not have a good group to meet those projects head on. The key was how well would we "gel" into a team. WOW!
Even though we had only a short time to go through our thoughts, it was clear that our team was going to be determined, fun and work hard to achieve any of the projects.

In taking in these random thoughts, a pattern became very clear to me. Each individual wanted to give of themselves for their team, class and community. I am sure the classes that preceded ours achieved that goal, and in doing so, became "The best class ever." A title worth fighting for, not for our own recognition, but for our community.
Can't wait to continue the journey with my team and class!

I wanna be like Mike...

Who do I wanna be like?

This was the question that ran though my head when instructed to "Think of a time when you willingly followed the direction of someone you admired and respected as a leader" at Leadership Snohomish County's Fall Retreat.

Millions of Gatorade drinking, NBA dreaming, neighborhood court playing youth wanted to be like Michael Jordan in the early 90's. I'm sure some of us still do.
It's true that many consider MJ to be the best basketball player of all time, but did that make him a leader? Maybe, maybe not.

Did Mike make his team members feel confident, capable, imaginative and creative? Were they calm in his presence? Did they feel like they had skills and abilities to bring to the table? Maybe, maybe not.

Did Michael give his team members 100% of his attention and focus when meeting? Did he give praise and encouragement, tell them to run with it when they had an idea that was outside of the box? Did he work hard and care about his job? Was he honest? Did he recognize when it was time to let go, and encourage team members to move on to other opportunities when there was a chance for personal growth? Maybe, maybe not.

I couldn't possibly tell you if Michael Jordan did all of these things with his team. But I can tell you my first non-profit agency supervisor did. And she was a leader. The kind of leader I wanna be like.