Weekly Posts and Insights

Creating Helpfulness In Community by LEADing
People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington

Creating Helpfulness In Community by LEADing

When we are called to provide hope, humanity, humility and helpfulness through LEADing. We must first Look around and pay attention finding moments and opportunities to empathize. Empathize by perspective taking, being non judgemental, recognizing emotion, communicating and practicing mindfulness. Acknowledge the truth of the current situation. Decide what actions need to be taken (if any).

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Turning Community Building and Leadership Upside Down
Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington

Turning Community Building and Leadership Upside Down

The Upside-Down Community Leadership concept envisions leaders at the bottom, serving and uplifting the community members. This inversion reflects a shift from self-centered leadership to a more altruistic and community-centric approach. The core principles of the Upside-Down Community concept align with virtues such as humility, compassion, and service to others. By adopting a servant-leadership mindset, community leaders prioritize the well-being of the community over personal gain. This model encourages leaders to lead by example, demonstrating that true greatness arises from selfless service and a commitment to the collective good.

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Fostering Humanity in Community Leadership
People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington People, Culture, Leadership Matthew Harrington

Fostering Humanity in Community Leadership

As communities (both at work and in life) grapple with shifting values and ethics, steering away from a shared sense of humanity, the perilous path of individualism and vested interests looms. This phenomenon of individualism finds its roots in a focus on personal feelings and self-actualization, championed by great minds like Emerson and Thoreau. However, I would argue that in order to find ourselves, we have lost each other. The antidote to strict individualism lies in the love of humanity, a force that transcends self-interest and places communal well-being at its core.

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Creating Pragmatic Hope In Your Community
Culture, People, Leadership Matthew Harrington Culture, People, Leadership Matthew Harrington

Creating Pragmatic Hope In Your Community

Hope can be a faint glimmer on the distant horizon. It can keep us moving on the journey of community, belonging and love. Hope is a way of thinking - a cognitive process - or as C. R. Snyder called it a trilogy of: goals, pathways and agency.

Yes, hope is also based in emotions and can greatly inspire us to reach the highest heights, however its core is in ‘function.’  We experience hope when we can set realistic goals, when we can stay flexible and develop alternative pathways, and when we believe in ourselves or “agency.”

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Building Bridges: The Transformative Power of Hospitality in the Workplace and Communities
People, Leadership, Culture Matthew Harrington People, Leadership, Culture Matthew Harrington

Building Bridges: The Transformative Power of Hospitality in the Workplace and Communities

Community, a term encompassing our town halls, spiritual centers, workplaces, and backyards, holds diverse meanings for different people. It can signify gathering, progress, workplace teams, civic justice, or merely the coming together of a people. Amid these various perspectives, one often overlooked concept stands out as a powerful force capable of transforming communities from the inside out: hospitality.

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Craving Connection: The Deep Roots of Belonging in Human Existence
Culture, People Matthew Harrington Culture, People Matthew Harrington

Craving Connection: The Deep Roots of Belonging in Human Existence

In the intricate tapestry of human existence, one common thread binds us all – the innate need for belonging. Recent research underscores the significance of finding a sense of belonging within close social relationships and communities for overall well-being. At our core, we are social beings, interdependent on one another for survival, and the ability to belong is a powerful force shaping our lives.

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Culture vs. Community: Navigating the Truth of Connection
Culture Matthew Harrington Culture Matthew Harrington

Culture vs. Community: Navigating the Truth of Connection

Culture and community are two intertwined concepts that shape the fabric of societies, defining the uniqueness of each group. While culture helps us differentiate societies, community goes beyond mere description, fostering a sense of fellowship among individuals who share common attitudes, interests, and goals within a specific area

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The 4 Things You Need To Be a Great Remote Leader
Culture, Leadership, People Matthew Harrington Culture, Leadership, People Matthew Harrington

The 4 Things You Need To Be a Great Remote Leader

When it comes to remote work or some variation of it (hybrid work), the only negotiable is the speed at which we are willing to change our workplaces, not the change itself. Hopefully these 4 elements will give you a head start in adapting your workplace. Don’t wait to go completely remote, these tools work well with traditional workplaces too!

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Building a Long-Lasting, Great Company By Answering These Fundamental Questions
Culture Matthew Harrington Culture Matthew Harrington

Building a Long-Lasting, Great Company By Answering These Fundamental Questions

Thesis: If you don't know who you are, where you're going (or want to take other people like your customers) or why you're doing this (the business), no amount of marketing in the world will help you create a great, lasting company, product or service. The story you share with your customers and could-be customers has to be true, authentic, passionate and align with your internal self (as a business).

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