Purpose-Driven

Inclusion is an intrinsic element of effective leadership. This theme is essential to my personal leadership "DNA". Creating an environment where team members are heard and their best ideas are amplified results in empowerment.  It's something much deeper than simple team demographics.  It's a modeled behavior that brings diversity in thought, communication style, and perspective.  

In their book Radical Inclusion, authors Martin Dempsey and Ori Brafman explain that today, the practice of inclusion is challenged - in competition with the growing power of narratives (fact-based or otherwise), the digital echo of social media, and the desperate need for control. Through real-world examples, they show that real inclusion concentrates on the "what"  (the cause), while distributing the "how" (the community).  In effect, inclusion empowers through the measured surrender of control. While this might seem counterintuitive to leaders in hierarchical organizations, it's impressive to note the case studies are directly from Dempsey's service in the U.S. military.