Vctor

“The second lesson that Bonhoeffer took away from his time in America was the power of empathy. Through his experience in the black community, he discovered a world and a set of perspectives very different from his own. The more he learned about African-Americans, the more he understood what it meant to live on the margins of society. Bonhoeffer nourished this empathy, using it to try to understand the suffering of others—including victims of Nazi brutality. In late 1942, Bonhoeffer would define this empathy as “the view from below,” the ability to see “the great events of world history … from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed, the reviled—in short, from the perspective of those who suffer.”
― Nancy F. Koehn, Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times

“Putting such stakes in the ground requires that leaders see not only the big picture, but also their impact on it. People who aspire to lead have to recognize what is at risk at a given juncture, what right action the moment demands, and what the consequences are of choosing one course over another.”
― Nancy F. Koehn, Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times

“Focus and discipline are essential tools for leaders in our own time. Attention spans are shrinking; many of us have trouble concentrating, listening well, and reflecting. Some of this difficulty is a result of nonstop connection to information and other people, and some is a function of trying to do several things at once.”
― Nancy F. Koehn, Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times

“It offers an important lesson for today’s leaders. No matter the mission—whether it be fighting injustice, starting a company, or teaching a classroom of fifth graders—leaders have to put a stake in the ground acknowledging what they’re doing and why. Each person must consciously decide for himself to embrace the larger purpose; he must also decide whether he is ready to walk onto the broader stage and lead.”
― Nancy F. Koehn, Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times