Joe Gerstandt | keynote speaker, freedom fighter, freak-flag flier

I have been thinking about community a lot lately.  I recently finished participating in a learning circle that was focused on community and read and re-read some wonderful books from Peter Senge, Peter Block, Margaret Wheatley and others with really wonderful perspectives on community.  I have also been struggling to clarify part of my role   [Read More…]

I got invited to a meeting once.  It seemed a little surreal at the time and it still does now, when I think about.  I was doing a lot of work with high school students and college students at the time and shortly after facilitating a summer camp for sophomores and juniors, I got a   [Read More…]

“Leadership, simply put, raises our consciousness, because we cannot solve the problems and challenges we face with the same thinking that caused them.  Leadership is not the propagation of our own ideas, constructs and theories, however worthy they might be.  It is the raising of consciousness- in body, mind and spirit- in self, culture and   [Read More…]

Let me cut right to the chase on this post, I have three points to share… I stole the name for this post from a great article I read recently. Harmony = Bad Conflict = Good I know, I know…as a peace lover and diversity advocate I am supposed to be all about harmony right?    [Read More…]

I am a reader and a while back, I read a heap of books about science.  I was really interested in chaos theory, emergence, complexity, autopoiesis and read about little else for a couple of years.  One of the concepts that has always stuck with me and I believe to be very relevant to human   [Read More…]

Perception vs. Reality, Good vs. Evil, Life vs. Indifference, Omaha, BP and Deep Thoughts for a Monday morning Every time that I hear the phrase; “perception is reality,” it chaps my ass a little.  I think that this is becoming a very dangerous idea for us.  I understand that perception matters.  I understand that in   [Read More…]

One of the books I have really enjoyed this year is Switch from the Heath brothers.  One of the ideas that has continued to bounce around in my head since I first read it is: What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity. I find this to be very true, especially regarding the   [Read More…]

RADIANCE If ten lamps are in one place, each differs in form from another; yet you can’t distinguish whose radiance is whose when you focus on the light. In the field of spirit there is no division; no individuals exist. Sweet is the oneness of the Friend with His friends. Catch hold of spirit. Help   [Read More…]

I am in Chattanooga, TN and will be presenting for the local SHRM chapter tomorrow.  Here are my slides…lot to cover! Why (and How) Diversity Matters Now View more presentations from Joe Gerstandt.