Recently I had an opportunity to discuss the current political situation in Czech Republic with two young Czech executives. They both characterized the current leadership vacuum here is an absence of sustainable leadership. One of them suggested that countries such as Czech Republic are full of people who have reasonable material comforts, and yet lead lives of quiet, and at times noisy desperation. Like in neighboring Germany, they increasingly are becoming "nichtwahlers" or non-voters. In terms of how happy they feel to live in their own country, according to a world wide poll, Czechs now rank on 39th place, Poles on 51st place and Hungarians on 110th place.

So I asked them what do they think may be wrong with their country in terms of the leadership situation. First they hesitated for a while. Then one of them suggested that old, worn out totalitarian thinkers are no longer able to inspire the new generation of young, educated voters. They only appeal to those still thinking in totalitarian terms, and prefer to think only about themselves, not about the needs of the rest of citizens living in the country.

So I told them about the International Leadership Institute's programs we have been organizing for years (ever since the collapse of totalitarian communism in East and Central Europe) for leaders from post-communist countries, and about what we learned from those leaders over the years. Together with participants in the ILI programs we came up with a profile of a successful 21st century leader.

St Vaclav, Duke of Bohemia in the 10th century

Here are some typical observations:
We agreed that successful 21st century leaders typically encourage and lift others from where they are to where I
t is their potential to be. They do not aim for mediocrity but for excellence. They serve in their leadership roles with energy, intelligence, imagination, diligence, wisdom and good will toward others. Such leaders do no evil and do not condemn their neighbors but keep their oath even when it hurts.

They protect the weak and the needy from those who malign them . They are able to correctly discern their priorities and focus diligently on key tasks for the good of their country.

Then one of the two future leaders asked me, how can the country find such leaders.  I suggested that a healthy country, with a healthy society should be able to produce them.

Fortunate are people whose top leader's lifestyle is a demonstration of can-do attitude combined with good will toward people, understanding, compassion, diligence, high energy level and a heart for social justice.

Such a leader can and will attain a deep inner state of quietness in order not to become prey to tension, worry, fear and ill health. Such a servant leader is also wise in that which is good and simple concerning evil, and will seek counsel regarding every circumstance that confronts him or her.

Such a leader does not accept conditions of any kind that would mar the well being of the people he or she leads, and does not accept the rejection, the bruising or the piercing of negative words and actions by the leader's enemies or opponents.

Redirect is now open for new participants!

You have just one life, so it's in your best interest to make the most of it. No one can do this for you! Take charge of your life, one decision at a time.

After our successful organizational meeting at Bio Zahrada on Tuesday, we are excited to be offering the late summer 2013 Redirect seminar to our new participants! We have also decided to open the seminar to other people living in Prague who are interested in making a change in their lives.

What you have done in the past can be reshaped and refashioned into something new, better and different. We especially want to recommend this seminar (delivered in 4-2 hour sessions) to people who find themselves complaining about their job, feeling that they are not challenged and are not using all their potential.

Seminar Details:

Redirect Seminar, Session One of four.

Tuesday, August 20 at 18:15

at Monolok Cafe on Moravska 18 in Vinohrady (Please ask for Tusek table)

http://www.monolok.cz/

Cost for seminar: 1800 kc for four 2-hour sessions (8 hours total of meeting time).  

Our book, 21st Century Jobs, is needed for the seminar; cost for the book is 200 kc.

If you think this may be helpful to you, please join us. We will have extra books and other materials for any new people who come to this first session.

New "Redirect" seminar for August!

We have recently met several people who live in Prague and are considering major changes in their lives. Some of them need a new job; one is graduating from high school and getting ready for university studies; one is discouraged and needs to believe that she can get "the job she can like and do best."

So we are inviting these people to a small meeting at Bio Zahrada at Belgicka 25/33 in Vinohrady, on nam Miru, at 5: 30 on Tuesday, August 13.

http://www.bio-zahrada.cz/en

We would welcome you, too, if you are ready to get some help with deciding what to do in your career! Czech and English-speakers are all welcome.