If a leader takes people where they want to go, does a great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be?

Bio

Cynthia Bryant has worked in federal agencies for over 20 years. She has led mediations to resolve workplace conflicts and been part of an advising body to the president on diversity and inclusion. She has served on the boards at the University of Kansas Law School, and the Seeing Eye guide dog school, which incidentally, is close to her heart as she uses a guide dog too.

Synopsis

We begin by talking about her experiences with President Jimmy Carter, before moving onto broader topics about how disability knows no race or colour or gender. She gives incredible insight into the difficulties of segregation, and the search for solutions that help people move forward. We then talk about the best qualities of a leader, how to engage with people and deal with their assumptions. We close by discussing why we need to take a moment, shut our eyes, and just listen. When we see less , we often hear more.


Reflection

Something I found interesting was her mother deliberately exposing her to a wide range of cultures growing up, causing her to see empathy as an essential quality in a leader, especially as she talked about the difficulties of segregation. I know I have cast my net quite wide over my lifetime, but don't we all sometimes miss something?

More from Cynthia

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-bryant-8945b024