The Hero’s Journey

Leadership in an Age of Heroes

CSAANYS

S Carol CiminoS Carol Cimino

The Leader:

Takes us to a place we would never go alone;

Defines the goal in terms of the mission;

Never sees a ducky and a horsey.

How Do We Define a “Hero”?

Recent events Role models Doers The hero in myth

The Metaphor:

Helps us to find a common ground; Helps us to identify a shared purpose; Helps us to reach a consensus on

informed action; Kindles the imagination and touches the

heart.

As a Result:

There is a higher level of creative thinking;

There is a commitment to a plan of action.

The Hero in Myth

Leaves Home(the state of innocence)– We have left our zone of comfort– You are THEY– You must be noticed– What makes us do this?

The Hero:

Has a mission:– How does the mission get “played out”?– What is your personal mission?– How does it fit into your institutional

mission?– What drives us: mission or money?

The Hero:

Makes friends along the way– Who are our friends?– How do we “win hearts and minds”?– How will we make and keep new friends?– How do we establish relationships with

customers?

The Hero:

Has a special protector:– -Who is that in your career?– -How do you cultivate a protector?– - How do you take advice, while following

your own wisdom?– - How will you become a protector?

The Hero:

Meets monsters– Our doubts– Our culture– Our challenges:

• Diversity• Technology• Money• People to take our place

– Who are your monsters?

The Hero:

Has doubts– Are we the right people for the job?– Is the job worth doing?– Are we in the wrong forest?

The Hero:

Completes the mission and returns home changed– How will we know?– How will they know?– Will we be satisfied staying home?– What brings us “out on the road” again?– What about passion?

Finally….

1. What is so frightening aboutOur mission?2. What forces us to embark?3. What is the vision thatdrives us?4. Who are our gurus?5. How will we recognizethe wisdom within?6. How will we know what challenges lie ahead?

Finally finally...

What are the outmoded and self-deceptive mindsets that keep us from moving forward?(What’s “the box”?)

What is the “state of innocence” to which we can never return?

How do old paradigms, policies, structures keep us from being heroic?