Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi with Design Group International

05/09/2023

Do you believe that curiosity can be learned? I do! I wrote this blog because cultivating curiosity can help us to build the bridges that connect us. How are you growing curiosity to enlarge the space to respect other ways of being, doing, thinking, and believing?

It is possible to develop the curiosity needed for healthy dialogue.

12/14/2022

“No one has the power to strip us of our dignity! How do you think we got through apartheid? Knowing our dignity was in our hands, and in our hands only, sustained us in those darkest moments.” (Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Donna Hicks, as reported in her book, LEADING WITH DIGNITY.

Sit with that for a minute.

12/12/2022

“Dignity is our inherent value and worth…when we honor the dignity of others, it creates a sense of safety between us; people feel free to make themselves vulnerable, free to reveal their true selves. Relationships thrive when both parties feel they are seen, heard, and valued.” (Donna Hicks in LEADING WITH DIGNITY)




transformation

12/08/2022

As my beloved aunt and uncle near the end of their lives, I wrote down some of the things I've learned. If you would like to process your values, clarify your wishes, and prepare for crucial conversations with a professionally trained coach, let me know!

Processing your end-of-life plans, documenting them, and talking openly about your wishes with those you love brings peace to you and your family.

12/07/2022

Planning for Living and Dying

Processing your end-of-life plans, documenting them, and talking openly about your wishes with those you love brings peace to you and your family.

11/08/2022

Powerful Questions for Times of Disagreement

Deep listening can help disagreements from turning into destructive conflict. Powerful questions open-ended questions lead to better understanding.

06/10/2022

What are your favorite questions to start meetings? I love to see the energy that emerges when I ask:

- What are you celebrating? or
- Tell us something good.

05/28/2022

I want to reassure you. If you have disagreement among your leadership team, your staff, your congregation, or your board, —you are absolutely normal. Your group is not experiencing a “widespread problem”. Your team or board or congregation functions as intelligent, thinking humans are expected to function. Having disagreement means that you lead smart people, not a group of robots.

Welcoming disagreement: Six teambuilding ideas to build the trust needed to normalize, articulate, welcome, and affirm disagreements.

05/27/2022

Ever since March, I've been spending Tuesday and Thursday afternoons with this great group of people from across the country, becoming professionally trained coaches with the International Coaching Federation! Coaching is not counseling or mentorship or training or spiritual direction. Coaching looks to the future and assumes that each client is creative, resourceful, and whole. We listen deeply and ask the powerful questions that open up possibilities and then provide accountability as you move forward. Coaches don't tell clients what to do, but provide support as clients make their own plans and take responsibility for their own choices.

03/31/2022

Here's something I wrote if you want to help your leadership team, congregation, staff, or board build the trust needed to normalize, articulate, and affirm disagreement.

Welcoming disagreement: Six teambuilding ideas to build the trust needed to normalize, articulate, welcome, and affirm disagreements.

03/07/2022

There is something sacred about people listening to each other with undivided attention. I had the pleasure of leading two workshops entitled "Seen. Heard. Respected." for Ohio Annual Conference Assembly over the weekend.

02/28/2022

I recently asked a nonprofit leader about his biggest challenge. His response was immediate, "Retention of great staff. I am worried." Our conversation inspired my blog post today. If you believe that employees are your organization’s most valuable asset, here are some ways to put your belief into action.



Employee Retention in the Time of the Great Resignation

Employees are your organization’s most valuable asset. Treat them accordingly.