Lifework vs. The Works of One's Life #authenticity #leadership #societyandculture Authenticity in Leadership is an essential commodity because it goes far beyond counting the votes, customers, revenue, likes, KPI's etc. While these may be essential outcomes in the short term, they do not measure a leaders impact on the human condition. Knowing the difference between one's lifework and the works of one's life, is the measure of authentic leadership success and integrity. I think of President John Kennedy for example. His counter conventional decisions during the Cuban Missile Crisis, saved humanity as we know it, and perhaps were his lifework and defining moment? Years ago I taught a graduate seminar where one of the topics was lifework. Interviewing a student in the presence of class peers on this topic was often a teaching moment. During one such interview an older student reported how she had been a librarian, teacher, mother, friend, etc. in her life. When asked about her integrating lifework, she addressed a spellbound silent class defining her unifying mission as " A Midwife of Culture". She understood the leadership imperative of an authentic lifework. We would do well to emulate her insight and cultivate a sense of our own authentic lifework as impactful leaders.
Lifework vs. The Works of One's Life
