This year my old school Cornerstone Leadership Academy
celebrates 20 years and many know I have been involved in this work for as long
as I can remember. My reflections therefore take me to the early years when
back John Riordan was headmaster. As headmaster he was strict, kind and loving.
John gave his first-born son the middle name “Kutesa” this is a Luganda (or
better still Bantu) word to, “to negotiate”, to talk together.
John was headmaster of Cornerstone Leadership Academy boys at
a very formative stage when the school was struggling to find its identity. The
proprietors who included Tim, Michael and John sought to build a different kind
of school. A school with no rules. Where students are guided by principles. To
date this is true. In many ways this was a blend blend of cultures that the
American friends wanted where freedom and order would meet.
Negotiations was therefore inevitable. It was critical that
the talk was walked. That the student new they could push the line – He had to
sit with the students for many hours negotiating this or the other cause of
action. He had to do it over again with teachers, and non-teaching staff. If
one or two took offence with his cause of action, John would negotiate. He
would always adjust his position and give a very honest apology if there was
need. As a result only one of the students then was sent off we know he has
crossed the line long ago. But the spirit to negotiate did not stop even in
sending off this student. It was then no surprise that he called his son this
name ‘Kutesa’ although by then we took it as a joke.
Today we need a critical mass of people that see things this
way. A critical mass or people that are willing to lay bare to create things
new. We leave in a world of interest and not principles. By all standards John was the most principled person I have known.
How critical is our need for create bridges in our corridors
of powers that can create this culture of negotiation other then the arrogance
of power or pride. To developing and maintaining “together spaces” where all
ideas are debated and appreciated for our families, work places and Country.
Together spaces - call them fellowships, board meetings,
retreats, cabinet meeting were people do not come with positions but with possibilities,
where we do not look for oppositions but options it is here were we can blossom.
I like to refer to this as “excuses to get together”. Were we get together to
be with one another.
In taking these spaces seriously, we believe that we can
then begin to feel, see, experience one another in ways we would not normally. May
be then we can be different, inspirational, human.
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