Positive leaders offer an image of the future that generates hope and simultaneously offers unconditional support for the pursuit of that hope. The people need to have faith in the possible future and faith in the supportive present. When they develop such faith, they may dare to move forward and learn.
In that short time he had clarified what he really wanted, challenged his own assumptions, and created a vision he now desired to pursue. As he walked away I thought of the thousands of students he will teach and how we just altered their lives.
Ryan said that learning is often blocked by the common assumption that a speaker must be the expert who knows all the answers. Under the assumptions of expertise and authority challenge tends to lead to conflict.
Then George made an extraordinary claim. Since he opened his gallery many years ago, he has seen 15 other galleries open and then go out of business. He says he flourishes because he never varies from his professional life purpose.
Conventional assumptions are like the blinds in my window. They limit vision.