Page 202 - Harnessing the Strengths

Appendix: Meet the Authors ■ 185

the chance. It really is a kick when you see the fan-
tastic way that they deliver on such a project. Often
you feel even better than if you had done it yourself!
And often it’s much better than I would have done it.
Since we’re on the subject of confessions, what was
your most important lesson?
Ed: I think the profound recognition of cultural program-
ming. We are all deeply formed by our culture, our
upbringing, and our studies. All these things have
programmed us so that in certain situations, we will
react in certain ways. It is an art form to become
aware of this and to then let it go so that you can truly
be open for what people have to say instead of think-
ing that you already know it all. Only when you real-
ize that can you learn from others and demonstrate
that not only can you have equally valued contact,
but also that real communication is possible.
Fons: Too bad that people have to learn this sort of thing
the hard way.
Ed: That’s why I’m happy that we have tools nowadays
that can help people: the Servant-Leadership Acad-
emy, for example. Today’s leaders have the responsi-
bility to give direction to the next generation. Every
generation asks the question again about what is
the purpose of existence. That question, however,
has long ago been answered: it is to serve others. As
well-known psychiatrist Viktor Frankl said: “It is
not so important what we expect from life, but more
what life expects from us.” With the foundation of
the Servant-Leadership Academy last year, we cre-
ated a platform where people can learn how to fi nd
their way in the world of servant-leadership and their
own role therein. This means that a new generation