When you meet people this week, remember that you are not simply exchanging ideas and feelings. You are also sharing parts of each others' inner spiritual core. Push yours too hard and people may feel disrespected.

Take Boris, a visiting Russian orchestra conductor in New York. On the first morning of rehearsals, he stood before the orchestra, asked for silence, and spoke to his team for the first time. 

Do not concern yourselves with me, my name or where I come from, he told them. You may call me Maestro. In the last year I have traveled constantly conducting the greatest orchestras in Russia. My commitment and energy are incredible. I have created some of the greatest concerts of all time. You will need to perform beyond excellence if you are going to match that performance. I, your Maestro, am committed to taking you there. In the next two days, you and I will work 16 hours a day, and I will lead you to perfection.

Just then a voice from the orchestra said, Hey, whatever your name is. Screw you. I'm going for coffee."

Boris believes he is passionate, forthright, energetic, and creative. It's true. He is a brilliant man with an inner core that inspires. Yet he's an awful leader sometimes. People in the orchestra that day found him to be a boasting, bombastic bully. Was that his intent? If only he had been receptive to the inner core of others.

When you see people back away from you this week, remember Boris! It takes at least two inner cores to be a leader.

Stephen
ANE=Calm, Connected, Confident Leadership

PS: There's a short video for our Sept 21 to 23 Retreat at Worth Abbey, UK, here.