Friends,

"What is the role of compassion in the work of government?"  Fr. Henri Nouwen was sharing with us the question he once put before Senator Hubert Humphrey was thoughtful for a moment, and then he picked up a pencil from his desk.  'In Washington,' Nouwen said, "Senator Humphrey was thoughtful for a moment, and then he picked up a pencil from his desk.  'In Washington, our work is like writing with a pencil all the time, and then every once in a while, we turn the pencil around and use the eraser for a moment.'  Senator Humphrey looked up and concluded his thought: 'Compassion is like the eraser."

It seems that in my work, as with most who have as much or more authority than I do, Senator Humphrey's eraser response could be given to questions similar to the one Fr. Nouwen asked.  For instance, if I were asked:

• What is the role of real listening in your leadership work?  Or,
• What is the role of simple presence in your leadership work?  Or,
• What role does spirit play in your leadership work?  Or,
• What is the role of following, as you lead?

In each of these cases, I am afraid that the function in question is generally used as infrequently as the eraser.  Listening, presence, spirit, and following tend to be the underused yang to the yin of those of us who lead actively and insistently.  One of my RFL readers frequently chides me on the "push, push, push" in these RFL columns, with my assumption that if the leader does not push, then nothing, or nothing good, will occur.  This reader offers that there is an "organic" quality to the way individuals and groups work, and that sometimes leaders would be better off, observing, listening, and appreciating the forces at play.  With her own experience working with people with disabilities, she notes that frequently we mistake quiet or difference as passivity or weakness.  They are not.

My wife and daughter are excellent sketch artists.  I marvel at their use of the eraser. The pliant pink tool is as important as the graphite point, as they pay attention to the reality they are trying to capture.  The eraser lets the white space live and gives better shape to their work and to the vision they are attempting to serve.  Perhaps before you make your point this week, you might quietly take another look at your perception, and make sure you are seeing what you think you see.

Peace,
 
Dan

Daniel Granholm Mulhern
First Gentleman
Office of the Governor
State of Michigan
(517) 241-0534

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"Seeing the magnificence in all people -- dedicated to their fullest success."

Copyright 2005 Daniel Mulhern.  I distribute RFL without charge to people with an interest in leadership, and grant permission to these recipients to distribute copies of these works to personal contacts for non-commercial purposes only.  All other rights are reserved, and requests for copying and distribution of these works may be made to FirstGentleman@Michigan.gov.  The views of this and other RFLs reflect my personal beliefs and may or may not reflect the views of my wife, Jennifer Granholm, or any other officials of the State government.