This was a memorable session for me as I had the opportunity to share about the heart-centred events I had organised for the Columbia Alumni Club in Singapore with leaders of other Columbia alumni clubs across Asia. It was also memorable because of the powerful participant storytelling and images that participants sketched as their takeaways.
I led a sharing session on crucible experiences, starting with one of mine.
“..the crucible experience was a trial and a test, a point of deep self-reflection that forced them to question who they were and what mattered to them. It required them to examine their values, question their assumptions, hone their judgment. And, invariably, they emerged from the crucible stronger and more sure of themselves and their purpose—changed in some fundamental way.” – “Crucibles of Leadership” by Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas, Harvard Business Review
They were invited to share about crucible experiences or a key life event that shaped you in a significant and positive way.
These were some of the beautiful sketches that emerged after I showed mine (first below).
After the session, I received a note from the Director of Regional Clubs and Alumni Relations at the office of Alumni and Development at the Columbia Alumni Center saying:
You led an engaging and deeply thought provoking session. It was truly a transformative workshop and countless leaders shared how inspired they were from your talk.
I was inspired by their sharings, and deeply grateful for this opportunity to plant seeds and facilitate meaningful connection between leaders. As I look at their post-it notes now, five years later, they speak to me in new ways.
What is one of your crucible stories?
Whose crucible story would you like to hear?
Which post-it sketch draws you in the most?