Leadership • Language • Justice • Purpose
Haitian Creole Legal Language Specialist, storyteller, and community builder helping you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and create meaningful impact.
Sa-w byen plante paka dechouke.
Sa-w byen kenbe paka glise nan men-w.
Sa-a se bonè yon jenerasyon a yon lot.
Kiltive vèti pou pwòp tèt pa-w,
Vèti ap vin’n reyèl nan lavi-w.
Kiltive-l nan fanmi-w,
Vèti ap pwopaje sot deyò.
Kiltive-l nan vilaj la,
Vèti ap grandi.
Kiltive-l nan peyi-a,
Vèti ap vin’n abondan.
Kiltive-l nan inivè-a,
Vèti ap toupatou.
Laozi-Lao Tsu
Tradiksyon Roosevelt Jean-Francois
Nous sommes en pleine transition du leadership global. Et la dernière co-publication de LeaderShift: a call for Americans to finally stand up and lead, par les auteurs et experts en leadership Orrin Woodward et Oliver Demille, est un bon boint de départ pour l’engagement de la communauté des affaires à l’engagement et à l’éducation du leadership.
Il est un fait –et le dernier film de Raoul Peck le prouve bien- que ni le gouvernement, ni les institutions internationales, ni les organisations non gouvernementales ne sont aptes à promouvoir le leadership et qu’il revienne aux entrepreneurs, à la communauté des affaires de s’engager à l’éducation continue et auto-dirigée du leadership.
Voici le sujet de LeaderShift, sorti le 16 avril dernier, aux Etats-Unis.
Je vous invite, vous aussi à lire ce livre, et à participer à un groupe de discussion sur son contenu en tenant compte de la réalité locale à partir du cadre théorique et de la mise en contexte élaborés par Orrin Woodward et Oliver DeMille.
A partir d’une parabole, les auteurs relatent qu’une augmentation des pouvoirs du gouvernement (au-delà de la défense intérieure et extérieure) conduit à une diminution des libertés de la société. Par conséquent, la seule façon de limiter le gouvernement est de limiter son budget et responsabiliser les gens de la communauté à amener les responsables à rendre compte de leur gestion.
Personne n’est capable de veiller sur un gouvernement, une institution internationale, tout seul. Il faut la constitution de groupes de leaders locaux qui sont économiquement indépendants et qui peuvent avoir le temps pour investir dans le bien commun.
Un LeaderShift est un mouvement de transformation qui a des impacts sur la société pendant au moins une génération.
Les auteurs soutiennent que nous sommes aujourd’hui dans les premiers stades d’une autre grande transition. Cette fois-ci, tenant compte de la faiblesse et de la faillite des grandes institutions telles l’armée, l’église, il revient aux dirigeants et chefs d’entreprises prospères d’exercer leur influence et leurs talents de leadership à la tête de la société.
Pour ceci, ils doivent eux mêmes étudier, lire, converser, écrire, influencer, communiquer. Ils doivent comprendre l’histoire globale et les lois du déclin (j’en parlerai dans mon prochain article), dont chacune érode la force de nombreuses institutions, y compris les organisations d’affaires. Il faut comprendre ces lois pour pouvoir les surmonter.
LeaderShift est écrit comme une fable. Le personnage principal est un chef d’entreprise prospère qui se rend compte que les politiciens ne sont pas susceptibles de fixer notre économie.
Il part lui même à la recherche d’une solution au déclin. Dans le processus, il applique la sagesse tirée des années dans l’entreprise et de la plupart des grands livres d’affaires, met en place une équipe de gens d’affaires pour faire face à nos problèmes nationaux, et crée un plan sur la façon de fixer vraiment le pays.
Ce livre est d’une lecture amusante, une histoire agréable que vous aurez envie à raconter et raconter. Et, c’est peut-être le wake-up call qui va pousser notre génération à l’engagement et à l’action du leadership.
LeaderShift est disponible en librairie et en ligne. Je vous encourage de le commander par 10 et de constituer des groupes de 10 dans vos entreprises, vos associations, vos communautés, pour participer à nos discussions. Vous pouvez me contacter à ce sujet.
@rooseveltjf
Je viens de visionner le dernier film de Raoul Peck sur Haïti: Assistance Mortelle. Bonne réalisation sur la forme. Mais sur le fond, je ne partage pas sa vision de culpabiliser en premier plan la communauté internationale en reléguant en arrière plan la responsabilité haïtienne. Ce n’est pas l’assistance qui soit mortelle, mais l’absence d’un leadership haïtien pour apporter des réponses haïtiennes aux problèmes haïtiens créés par eux mêmes consciemment ou non.
Je comprends certes qu’il y a cette grosse machine qui fonctionne qui a plus à voir avec les pays donateurs que les pays receveurs. Je crois aussi qu’il est de la responsabilité des pays receveurs de définir les règles du jeu et d’assumer leurs responsabilités d’échec et de réussite.
Je crois que ce dernier aspect autour de la responsabilité locale donnerait beaucoup plus de poids à ce documentaire. Il est toujours beaucoup plus facile de pointer du doigt l’autre, de dénoncer la machine du viol collectif que d’assumer nos responsabilités et faire face aux défis imposés par le cours de la vie.
Je me rappelle d’une peinture populaire dessinée sur les murs de l’Ecole Nationale des Infirmières à la rue Monseigneur Guilloux en face de la rue Joseph Janvier qui peignait une image de la carte d’Haïti au fonds d’un verre entrain d’être sucée au chalumeau par les Etats-Unis, la France, l’Espagne etc… C’était la belle époque des concerts de Manno Charlemagne pour des étudiants de la FENEH qui dénonçaient la malfaisance du Blanc américain, ou de l’hebdomadaire Haïti Progrès qui, dans ses pages du milieu, présentait le plan américain pour Haïti.
Ce film vient s’ajouter à cette collection d’oeuvres artistiques et contenus d’informations qui nous font voir les “causes de nos malheurs¨ chez les autres. Il faut arriver à répondre à la question comment les Haïtiens peuvent-ils prendre le contrôle de leur situation et ne pas assumer d’avance que nous ne pouvons pas parce que nous sommes trop concentrés à la survie quotidienne, trop empêtrés ou paralysés par la violence du passé.
Ce film est un bon point de départ pour notre éducation au leadership et de construction de nos communautés. J’espère le voir projeter un peu partout sur tout écran, grand et petit, et susciter la conversation. Mais une conversation à partir de nous mêmes en comprenant nos erreurs, en assumant nos responsabilités tout en comprenant la responsabilités des autres.
Mes héros dans ce film sont Jean Michel Dorville et Pierre Simon, représentants de Corail, Jean-Ronald Mérisma, un représenant du quartier populaire de l’ONAVille, qui dans une réunion avec le Président René Préval et le Premier Ministre Jean-Max Bellerive demandent ouvertement ¨pourquoi les étrangers font ce qu’ils veulent dans le pays¨et ¨pourquoi le Chef de l’Etat arrive à accepter tout ca¨?
La réponse: ¨Vous savez que notre Etat n’est pas fort. L’Etat est faible¨. Fort et /ou faible par rapport à quoi et/ ou qui? En fait, L’Etat est fort. Son chef peut exercer un leadership fort ou faible.
Je ne vais pas m’attarder sur des réponses personnelles. Mais disant en passant que l’absence de leadership était total. Du moins pour ce que nous avons vu dans ce documentaire.
Il ne s’agit pas seulement de l’équipe Préval/Bellerive, mais aussi de la nouvelle administration. Je regarde la scène pour des tractations devant financer le projet 16/6. Clément Bélizaire, notre kéké, assiste aux discussions entre les représentants du PNUD et de la CIRH. Les discussions sont vives entre les deux parties sur un overhead de 5.8 millions de dollars qui ne sont pas justifiés. Il est assis entre les deux parties, comme s’il n’est pas concerné, se contente de verser du café dans sa tasse, boit et re-boit , le regard fuyard vagabondant en l’air.
Voici le vrai problème. Nous ne sommes pas vraiment présents dans la gestion de nos affaires. Nous acceptons des demi-vérités et préjugées. Notre combat, et c’est pourquoi, j’aime ce film, c’est d’arriver à nous assumer, accepter et jouer nos rôles.
Bravo à Raoul Peck et à son équipe pour cette réalisation. Que ce film soit un outil d’éducation au leadership. Qu’il soit diffusé un peu partout et surtout initier de nouvelles conversations dans nos communautés.
http://www.rooseveltjeanfrancois.com
@rooseveltjf
What is friendship? What’s the difference between friendship and acquaintances? Why friendship matters?
Orrin Woodward and Tony Cannuli host HBRN’s Leadership Factory with special guest Chris Mattis. The three leaders dive into the subject of friendship and how tight relationships are formed and kept. Anyone who works with people will benefit greatly from this Leadership Factory. Indeed, Chris Mattis is one of the greatest encouragers in the community building field and the viewers will see why.
Have fun watching, and listening this conversation.
I just read and reread LIFE outstanding speaker Terri Brady‘s posts relating how she faced her brain tumor medical conditions. It’s all about grace, faith, purpose, and peace.
Through her story, I am learning to surrender and give total control to the Higher Power. I better understand why we need to be free from day to day carrying bucket jobs, to build a wealth pipeline engine, and to have a community of friends, fans and family that we can count on.
I was at Louisville Leadership Convention in 2008 when she announced she would have brain surgery. I better understand today what she went through and how purposeful she is to continue her journey on the stages of LIFE although she was facing HER life threatening issues.
Her blog Letters to Lindsey is one my favorite. I like her writing style melting into words deep content and soft humor. I can’t wait to have ¨Letters to Lindsey¨ as a book in my hand.
My deepest appreciation to Terri Brady who is the spouse of New York Times bestselling author Chris Brady and LIFE founder.
God bless,
Roosevelt Jean-Francois
Here are the posts from Terri Brady. Please read, and associate with her thinking to make a difference for yourself and your loved ones.
For those who are just joining, it may be helpful to READ FIRST:
Dear Lindsey,
In some ways, 2008 seems like yesterday, but as I recall my history, it seems like a whole different lifetime. As I said in part I and II of this letter, headaches led to MRI’s which revealed a tumor. Although the tumor seemed unrelated to the location of the pain, its speed of growth required surgical removal. When it rains it pours, and so did other “unrelated” health issues of skin cancer, a noise in my ear and swallowing problems which led to coughing issues…but the brain surgery took priority.
My story continues…
The Mental Fitness Challenge (MFC) is here, and it is an adventure like no other. I challenge you to challenge yourself by taking the 90 day Mental Fitness Challenge.
Developed by seven of the country’s top leadership gurus, nationally acclaimed speakers, and personal transformation experts, with NY Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling authors Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady leading the way (visit their highly acclaimed blogs here: (http://orrinwoodwardblog.com and www.chrisbrady.com ), this program will awaken your mind and change your life.
The MFC is a rare, comprehensive personal development program that provides you with the opportunity to “Live the Life You’ve Always Wanted.”
Consisting of a variety of new materials combined with updates of materials that have proven timeless and effective year after year, the MFC format is presented as three modules – one for each month – that are packaged in stylish, protective casing. The MFC is strategically and effectively designed to exercise your mind and teach you success thinking in the thirteen aspects of life covered in Orrin Woodward’s book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE. For 90 days, a mere three months of your life, you have the chance to make an investment in yourself that offers a lifetime of 
returns.
Participating in a challenge or boot camp is usually done with the goal of losing weight, toning one’s body, and/or building muscle. In the bigger picture, it’s about feeling good and gaining a sense of accomplishment. These programs are great, and we highly recommend them to anyone; however, the one failing component of these programs is that they are temporary. Once the typical challenge or boot camp ends, you’re on your own—an invisible but powerful sensation. For some, the challenge may be the spark that leads to a life changed forever. However, for the vast majority, it was an undertaking that required all the motivation they could muster just to make it through, so continuing to follow the program is highly unlikely.
We invite you to take a 90-Day Challenge that never ends. Sure, the Challenge itself will only take 90 days to complete, but unlike a new diet or exercise boot camp, the transformation achieved is permanent. The Mental Fitness Challenge (MFC) will certainly require work, dedication, and persistence. We do not promise instant results or miracles of any kind. But we do promise that if you faithfully follow the program, your thought process will be renewed.
This program is a journey for the heart and an awakening for the mind. Shortly after beginning the MFC, you will start to see yourself in a new light and will approach life differently. The founders of the MFC have mentored thousands of men, women, entrepreneurs and couples and have witnessed the amazing potency of these materials.
Consider this: What did your life look like 90 days ago? One hundred eighty days ago? A year ago? Notwithstanding life changes involving loved ones, jobs, or homes, how does your life look today compared to then? Now, ask yourself this: How COULD your life look 90 days from now? Imagine the possibilities, and then take the Challenge and find out! For every failing marriage, frustrated parent, hopeless addict, bankrupt home, or faith-starved man or woman, the MFC has the capacity to teach, motivate, and assist one with implementing the necessary changes in the right areas of life, the impact of which will last a lifetime.
Visit: www.mental-fitness-challenge.com
I had a conversation with Nathalie Liautaud, PADF (Pan American Development Foundation) Manager, Diaspora and Investment Outreach of The Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investments (LEAD) program.
The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of SMEs to engage in best business practices, attract foreign and Diaspora investments, grow businesses, create jobs, and generate income.
LEAD will use a grant matching mechanism to leverage private investments in Haitian SMEs identified through business plan competitions, and will collaborate with the Haitian Diaspora community to channel remittances to viable social enterprises and community projects, increasing their internal sustainability and external impact.
In addition, LEAD will work with the Haitian Diaspora in the United States and elsewhere to engage them in targeted philanthropic activities, social businesses, and innovative ways to use a portion of remittances to further the development impact of these resources.
Prior to joining PADF, she was a program director at Caribbean Central American Action (C-CAA).
She was also a program coordinator for the Centre pour la Libre Entreprise et la Democratie (CLED)’s media and civil society outreach policy and discussion program, focusing on raising awareness on competitiveness issues, and served as technical advisor at the Associations des Industries d’Haiti (ADIH), focusing on labor issues.
Nathalie has worked on environmental issues and economic development and has conducted research and evaluations of behavioral risk factors and other topics, working with the Office of Survey Research at the University of Texas at Austin.
She also has experience working with media companies, logging time at MTV Latino in Miami, among others. She graduated with Bachelor of Science in radio-television-film and earned an MA in Latin American Studies and in international communications from UT Austin. Nathalie is Haitian-American-Mexican, grew up in Haiti, and is fluent in French, English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
LEAD will operate in the three USG development corridors: Cap-Haïtien, Saint-Marc, and Port-au-Prince. The project will target industries and businesses with the greatest potential to create jobs, including construction, tourism, agribusiness, and alternative energy. The project will also focus on encouraging job creation for women, as women’s entrepreneurship enhances economic growth and improves household well-being, as well as for those with disabilities and are therefore particularly vulnerable.
A leader cannot reach his potential without a systems mindset. Chris Brady, top leadership guru and co-author of the best selling book Leading a Leadership Revolution, shares several excellent examples of systematic solutions in the following video. Essentially, when a person accurately identifies the system he is a part of, he can learn to leverage the system for bigger results. Systems thinking is crucial for long-term success. In fact, Orrin Woodward, in his recent outstanding book, RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE, one of the thirteen resolutions is resolving to learn systems thinking.
Here is Brady’s video.
I have the pleasure to share with you my conversation with Richard Rose, IBC Airways Manager in Fort-Lauderdale. We spoke about business opportunity in Cap-Haitian from Florida.
I just read a post on Power and leadership from my classmate friend blogger Cassandra Honorat. I may not agree with her on several key points on leadership but I’m glad to share her post with you.
Just note her lead is Power or Leadership with a question mark. But mine is Power and leadership with an exclamation mark.
I do think one can not be without the other. Power and leadership are intertwined. Former US Senator Joseph Nye is a good source on power and leadership in global affairs. He defines the concepts of hard power and soft power.
Let’s read her post.
Susan Ward defines leadership as: ” the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal”. This is certainly a concise, precise and to the point approach of a concept which has been debated throughout our recorded human history. Our aim here is neither to redefine nor discuss the meaning of Leadership rather than it is to underline the differences that exist between that concept and the one of Power and how confusing both has hurt Haiti tremendously.
If we go back for a minute to Susan Ward’s definition, the responsibility of the individual who aspires to lead rests in his/her ability to direct others. Therefore it would be fair to add that those who are meant to be led determine whether or not the leader is successful. If the common goal isn’t reached and if people are not motivated to work toward that said objective, then the leader has failed. On the other hand, those who have power don’t depend on those they rule or direct to succeed. They depend on the tools available (legal system, army, money) and on their ability to use those tools effectively to get what they want.
What is Power? The dictionary offers an array of definitions depending on the context. We’ve retained three:
1. The ability or capacity to perform or act effectively.
2. The ability or official capacity to exercise control; authority.
3. A person, group, or nation having great influence or control over others.
Power! When limited to the political realm, it simply means having within the hands of the individual, social class or political party the legal means to exert authority over the rest of society. Those who run for office usually do so in order to gain power but, in order to succeed, they must possess those qualities needed to become a good leader. One who has leadership qualities will sooner or later gain power; however, most who have power don’t necessarily lead because they are too concerned with controlling. Throughout human history, the less fortunate, who happen to be in greater numbers, have been kept in line because of power and because of a realistic fear of what it can do. There have been times when leadership was born out of grave injustices to right the wrongs of our world.
Having just spent 16 days in Haiti, one cannot help but ponder those two concepts. Before the magnitude of the work to be done, one has to ask whether or not our collective illness isn’t simply due to a terrible deficiency in quality leadership. Oh, there is plenty amount of power in Haiti and countless numbers of Haitians who vie to hold it for as long as they can and by all means necessary. Since 1804, and because of national and international conspiracies, the Haitian people has not been properly led. We’ve had our fair share of powerful and authoritarian heads of state. A small group of families, whose interests do not align with those of the rest of society, has been very successful at holding and keeping power and all means of production; they have yet to lead a society desperate to find itself.
There is an infrastructure that needs rebuilding and modernizing, construction codes to be updated, an educational system in desperate need of restructuring, jobs to be created, a legal system that needs a facelift and our collective dignity to be regained. Power only begets more power and it has the uncanny ability to quickly corrupt the foolish. But honest and effective leadership begets true vision and wisdom to lead a people onto the path of human progress. Haiti today needs builders of nation and makers of dreams to rise once more out of the ashes of destruction. Two fundamental questions remain: Can a society that is deep in crisis recognize those qualities that make a good leader? Is Haiti forever condemned to having as heads of state those power seeking individuals who never concern themselves with leading? The answers, I leave to you.
Cassandra Honorat
