Dr. Ruth Zaplin is now a Global Leadership Profile Coach
In addition to her positions as Professor and Senior Executive-in-Residence at American University’s School of Public Affairs and Director of Coaching for the Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University, Dr. Ruth Zaplin’s recent certification as a Global Leadership Profile (GLP) Coach adds a valuable dimension to her expertise in leader development.
Recommendations for increasing our capacity to lead in complexity: Start with Self-Leadership
A constant refrain from public sector leaders at all levels is that they are over their heads when dealing with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity beyond imagination. That, coupled with the post-pandemic, there is significant disagreement about how to deal with what is going on and what should happen.
What Story Are You Living In?
Our perception of the world around us is significantly influenced by the stories we create about our experiences. The more we become entrenched in our stories, the more challenging it becomes to perceive objective reality with clarity. Often, we’re unknowingly swayed by a complex interplay of thoughts and emotions.
“Resilient Leadership: Strategies for Thriving in Complexity and Chaos.”
On December 7, 2023, American University’s Key Executive Leadership Programs held its annual conference, “The Future of Leadership: Leading Through Chaos,” at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, DC. Drs. Ruth Zaplin and Marcia Ruben led an experiential session titled “Resilient Leadership: Strategies for Thriving in Complexity and Chaos.”
Ruth Zaplin & Marcia Ruben to speak on “Resilient Leadership: Strategies for Thriving in Complexity and Chaos” at Key Executive Leadership Conference.
Dr. Ruth Zaplin, Senior Executive in Residence, Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University, and Dr. Marcia Ruben, Professor Emerita at Golden Gate University, will present on December 7 at the Annual Key Executive Leadership Conference.
Practicing “Kindness-In”
Compassion toward others—what we might call “kindness-out”—begins with “kindness-in” or self-compassion. Kristin Neff, renowned for her work on self-compassion, describes it as treating oneself with the same kindness you would offer to a dear friend. Especially during moments of suffering, when we embrace self-compassion, we actively provide solace, comfort, and care to our own being, just as we would care for a dear friend.
Cocoon of Habitual Patterns
We stay in our cocoons unless/until something wakes us up. Our first stirrings of awakening are experienced as a feeling of claustrophobia and a longing for open space. This may or may not happen.
One way we can step outside of our cocoon is to develop the capacity to look directly at our minds and continually question our perceived reality. Basically, to really think about how your mind works.