The Extraordinary Ordinary: Lessons in Leadership and Life
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Co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory
In the documentary The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes, Garrison Keillor reflects on the experience of seeing his newborn daughter for the first time. What struck him was how something so extraordinary in his own life could also be such an ordinary human experience—one repeated countless times around the world.
There is something humbling about these extraordinary ordinary moments. They bring into focus the experiences that connect us and remind us of what it means to be human.
I recently had the pleasure of experiencing one of these extraordinary ordinary moments myself: I became a grandfather to a beautiful baby girl. Holding her in my arms for the first time, I marveled at how incredibly extraordinary it felt!
I was overwhelmed with an indescribable emotion that I had never felt before. It was so different from what I felt when my son, my granddaughter’s father, was born that I have spent a fair amount of time reflecting on the difference. I must admit defeat in my attempts to put it into words. Those of you who are grandparents yourselves understand what I am talking about. Those of you who are not… well, you probably don’t.
Leadership, Parenthood, and Passing the Torch
When I discovered that I would become a grandfather, I wrote a post talking about passing the torch of leadership to the next generation. I said a good leader knows when it is time to stand aside and that the whole event brought home to me that my primary role of leadership as a parent was ending.
A good leader also understands that stepping aside does not guarantee someone else will immediately be ready to assume the responsibility. Leadership requires more than occupying a position. It calls for judgment, commitment, and the willingness to discover what the role demands of us.
A good leader must know not only when to step aside but also when to get out of the way. I can place someone in a leadership role, but that person must discover how to embrace its responsibilities. Becoming a parent involves a similar journey of self-discovery, as mothers and fathers learn what it means to guide, support, and eventually make room for the next generation.
The Extraordinary Moments That Define Us
Leadership and parenthood both require us to think and act beyond the present, considering the well-being of others as well as ourselves. I watched this transformation unfold in the blink of an eye with the birth of my granddaughter. It was palpable when I walked into the room where my daughter-in-law held her newborn daughter, and it was overwhelming when my son held my gaze as he placed my granddaughter in my arms for the first time. It was an extraordinary ordinary moment.
Now, my granddaughter? She is simply extraordinary!
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About Dr. Gary M. Jordan, Ph.D.
Gary Jordan, Ph.D., has over 35 years of experience in clinical psychology, behavioral assessment, individual development, and coaching. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Berkeley. He is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary psychological assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their deepest potentials for success. He’s a partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents.
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