Imagine a world where leaders don’t just chase profits but also work with purpose, care for their people, and contribute to the greater good. These are the kinds of leaders our world desperately needs; leaders who inspire positive change in their workplaces and communities.
At the Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole, we believe in cultivating whole leaders: people who mindfully connect their actions with their values
And here’s the challenge: not everyone who wants to grow into this kind of leader has the financial means to access these vital programs.
That’s why we’re participating in Give to the Max this year – to raise funds for participants to access Seeing Things Whole programming at reduced cost.
Give to the Max
Give to the Max Day is on November 21, when people come together to support meaningful causes through donations. It’s a great opportunity to make a big impact. By contributing to the Cultivating Whole Leaders campaign on Give to the Max Day, you’ll help more individuals access our leadership programs, empowering them to grow into leaders who can make a real difference in their workplaces and communities.
Our goal is simple but powerful: to make our leadership programs more accessible to students, professionals, and community members; no matter their financial situation
Your donation will help reduce program costs, opening doors for more participants to become the authentic, purpose-driven leaders the world needs.
Here’s how your support makes a lasting impact:
Empower personal growth: Our programs guide individuals in discovering their strengths, values, and leadership styles, building their confidence and ability to lead authentically.
Teach purpose-driven leadership: We help leaders learn to solve challenges in ways that benefit their organizations, their communities, and the world.
Encourage responsible stewardship: We show leaders how to manage resources, whether it’s time, money, or people, in ways that honor both today’s needs and tomorrow’s possibilities.
By donating to our Give to the Max campaign, you’re investing in more than just a program: you’re shaping a future where workplaces and communities thrive. Your contribution today will enable more people to access these life-changing programs, ensuring that more leaders are equipped to make a positive difference. Together, we can make sure that leadership is about more than just success, it’s about serving others and creating a better world.
Thank you for your generosity and for believing in a future where leaders prioritize values, purpose, and stewardship. We can’t do this without you.
The Reell Office is thrilled to welcome Davide Guidetti to the team!
Davide Guidetti is currently a sophomore at Augsburg University, majoring in Marketing and International Business, and a team member at the Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole. Davide is expanding the Reell Office’s reach by utilizing his passion for marketing, business, and technology and his background in creative entrepreneurship and global experiences. Davide brings a global perspective to his work along with his experience in business development and digital branding with a focus on e-commerce and social media. Through his role at Seeing Things Whole, Davide aims to expand his knowledge of systems thinking and organizational growth.
The position’s goal is to expand our educational content, digital reach, as well as our ability to connect meaningfully with organizations who are curious about the Seeing Things Whole philosophy. We are thrilled to have Davide as part of the team.
In the fourth episode of the Reell Insights Series in September 2024, Jennifer Butler, P.h.D and Director of Multicultural Life at Augsburg University shared concepts about self-efficacy and how it supports leadership.
Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in their ability to perform and achieve goals. It is a critical component in personal and professional growth because it determines how much effort people will put into their work and how they will handle challenges.
What is Self-Efficacy?
Self-efficacy implies believing in one’s ability to complete tasks and successfully reach goals. It helps build confidence and keeps people motivated toward success.
Psychologist Albert Bandura named four ways a person can develop self-efficacy:
Mastery of Experience: The confidence that develops from success in performing tasks.
Vicarious Experience: Vicarious experiences are seeing others, especially people like you, succeed which encourages one to believe one can succeed too.
Social Persuasion: Positive feedback and encouragement from others that build up your confidence.
Emotional and Physical Condition: Managing stress and emotional pressure to maintain a positive outlook.
Connecting to Whole Leadership
Seeing Things Whole is about appreciating and supporting the wholeness of people, beyond their abilities. Within a leadership context, that translates into:
Celebrating success: Showing support and appreciation for small victories while building confidence.
Learning from others: If the shared stories are about success, the purpose is to inspire others through storytelling.
Building support: The encouragement and reminiscing of people about their strengths through positive feedback.
Managing well-being: Ensuring that people feel supported emotionally, which typically helps them stay motivated and confident.
Leadership That Supports Growth
The leadership philosophy Butler tries to instill in her team and students focus on building confidence through self-efficacy. She believes in:
Hearing people out: giving space to her team, expressing feelings, and allowing their solutions.
Appreciation of growth: Celebrating small and big achievements to remind people of their capabilities.
Instilling autonomy: Truly supporting autonomy in her team by giving ownership and helping to build skills.
Conclusion
Self-efficacy is not just about successful experiences; rather, it’s the building of a culture whereby those in it can exude confidence. In helping teams and students grow toward reaching their full potential, leaders like Jennifer Butler foster an environment that supports the whole person. Only through this type of strategy will organizations become stronger, leaders even better, and society at large benefit.
We are excited to introduce our new continuing education series, which expands on the Seeing Things Whole framework by empowering you with the tools and insights needed to tackle challenges, make informed decisions, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful change. Join us as you become a more mindful and effective leader!
Overview
The series consists of five interactive workshops, each aimed at enhancing your ability to lead mindfully through change for more holistic outcomes. The workshops cover the following over five weeks:
Date
Topic
Tuesday, Oct 22
Articulating Your Challenge
Tuesday, Oct 29
Types of Knowledge: Accessing Your Inner Wisdom
Tuesday, Nov 12
The Coin Flip Model of Responsible Decision-Making
Tuesday, Nov 19
Communication, Clarity, and Collaboration
Tuesday, Nov 26th
Mindful Implementation and Change
*** All Sessions are Online, last 90 minutes, and start at 12:00 pm CST
Throughout these workshops, you will work both individually and collectively to make progress on a leadership opportunity. Here’s what you can expect to gain:
Articulate Your Challenge: Identify the core of an organizational opportunity through structured inquiry while analyzing your beliefs to determine your core values.
Understand Types of Knowledge: Differentiate between distinct ways of knowing and practice tapping into your inner wisdom through guided visualization.
Take a New Approach to Decision-Making: Utilize the coin-flip model to honor the emotional aspects of decisions while analyzing and comparing potential outcomes.
Plan Your Communication to Maximize Engagement: Define effective communication and recognize the importance of engaging team members by seeking clarity.
Create Mindful Implementation for Change: Evaluate and propose implementation plans for organizational opportunities based on your decisions.
Workshops are Facilitated by Elaine Eschenbacher
Elaine is a writer, researcher, facilitator, and coach. Formerly Augsburg’s Assistant Provost for Experiential Learning and Meaningful Work, she launched Unleashed Azalea in 2024 where she offers coaching on leadership and creativity, and works with organizations on workshop design, facilitation, research and writing. She teaches Community Engaged Leadership courses with the Masters of Leadership program at Augsburg University and holds an MA in Organizational Leadership.
In today’s tough work environments, embracing all aspects of employees’ identities, including their religious or non-religious beliefs, is key to building inclusive and supportive workplaces. In the third episode of the Reell Insights Series in August 2024, Michon True Smith, Managing Director of Interfaith at Augsburg University, will give us some important lessons on how organizations can improve religious diversity and create spaces where everyone feels valued.
Allow Employees to Bring Their Whole Self to Work
One of the most important insights Michon shared is the idea that people should be able to bring their “whole self” to work including their religious and spiritual beliefs. When employees feel safe to express all aspects of who they are, they build stronger relationships with their coworkers and contribute more fully to the team.
Seeing Things Whole encourages leaders to recognize that a person’s values and beliefs are part of what makes them who they are. Embracing this wholeness in the workplace helps create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Religious Diversity is Part of DEI Efforts
Michon highlighted that religious diversity is often left out of broader diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. While companies focus on issues like race and gender, religious beliefs are sometimes overlooked, leading to a lack of understanding.
By recognizing the importance of religious diversity, companies can enhance their DEI programs and build more inclusive cultures where everyone feels respected.
Seeing Things Whole means understanding that diversity is not complete without recognizing the wide range of worldviews people bring to work.
Practical Steps for Inclusivity
Michon shared several practical ways organizations can support religious diversity:
Create a religious holiday calendar so everyone is aware of important dates.
Provide a space for prayer or meditation.
Form affinity groups for employees who share similar faiths.
These steps can help employees feel seen and respected, promoting a sense of belonging.
Seeing Things Whole encourages practical changes, ensuring that employees’ personal beliefs are supported; alongside their professional roles.
Benefits of Interfaith Dialogue
Interfaith discussions in the workplace can help employees better understand each other’s beliefs and can foster respect. By engaging in these conversations, businesses can reduce misunderstandings and build stronger teams.
By promoting Seeing Things Whole, organizations can embrace differences as strengths. Encouraging open dialogue about faith and worldview helps create a workplace where diversity is seen as a valuable resource and not as a challenge!
The Importance of Reflection
Michon emphasized the value of taking time to reflect on one’s values and beliefs. In our busy work lives, it’s easy to overlook this, but reflecting on what’s important can lead to better decision-making and personal growth.
Organizations that encourage this kind of reflection, especially around values, help employees connect their personal beliefs to their work. Seeing Things Whole promotes this intentional reflection, leading to more thoughtful leadership and a stronger sense of purpose.
Conclusion
The key message from Michon’s insights is clear: religious diversity is a strength. When organizations create inclusive spaces that honor all aspects of identity, they foster trust, build stronger teams, and contribute to a positive work environment.
Seeing Things Whole encourages leaders to embrace the full human experience, including faith, spirituality, and worldview, leading to a more inclusive organization.
In today’s rapidly evolving organizations, the concept of followership is becoming an essential component of effective leadership. In the second episode of the Reell Insights Series in July 2024, Tiffany Moore explains why followership is a fundamental part of the leadership process, highlighting key findings from her research and how it directly impacts leaders, organizations, and employees. We will delve into these findings and understand how they strongly connect to the Seeing Things Whole framework.
What is Followership?
Followership is the process of supporting and contributing to leadership. It’s a two-way relationship where both leaders and followers are influenced by each other. In most research, leadership is often emphasized while followership is ignored. Moore’s research reveals that effective leadership depends on active and engaged followers. It is very simple: leaders can’t lead without their followers; for this reason, this dynamic is crucial for a successful organization.
Key Learnings from the Research
Engagement is Crucial: Active followers, who regularly provide feedback and contribute to decision-making, have more influence. Engaged followers can be key to developing stronger organizations, and thanks to their work alongside leaders, they help create progress.
Barriers to Influence: Some followers struggle to influence leadership due to organizational barriers like rigid hierarchies or lack of communication. When these obstacles exist, followers feel uninvolved and less motivated to participate.
Influence Affects Job Satisfaction: Employees who feel they can influence decisions are more satisfied and likely to stay in their jobs. Those who feel uninvolved are more likely to leave their positions.
Power of Collective Action: Followers working together are more likely to influence leadership than those acting alone. Collective action provides strength and drives change within the organization.
Connecting Followership to Seeing Things Whole
Seeing Things Whole is a leadership approach that emphasizes understanding the bigger picture of an organization, including the interconnected roles of leaders and followers. Moore’s research fits perfectly with this approach, as it highlights how vital followers are to the overall success of an organization.
Leaders who follow the Seeing Things Whole philosophy understand that their followers are not just subordinates, but instead key contributors to the growth of the organization. By recognizing the value of followership, leaders can create an environment more inclusive and collaborative, where everyone has value.
Tips for Leaders and Followers
Leaders:
Encourage open communication and feedback.
Create opportunities for followers to collaborate and contribute ideas. Break down barriers that prevent followers from engaging.
Followers:
Take initiative by sharing ideas and requesting feedback.
Build relationships with leaders to strengthen your influence.
Work with others to strengthen your voice when sharing suggestions or concerns.
Conclusion
Followership can play a crucial role in leadership and organizational success. Moore’s research highlights how active engagement from followers can improve decision-making, support, and overall effectiveness. Leaders who adopt a Seeing Things Whole model recognize the importance of their followers, leading to more holistic, thriving organizations.
Powerful Questions can be used to lead and connect
Introduction
Effective leadership isn’t just about giving answers. It’s about supporting others in action. One way to do this is by asking powerful questions. In the first episode of the Reell Insights Series about Asking Powerful Questions, Professor Tom Morgan explains how powerful questions can inspire curiosity, build trust, and drive meaningful conversations. This approach perfectly aligns with the Seeing Things Whole framework, which utilizes powerful questions to support leaders in gaining insights into their challenges.
Why Questions Matter
Powerful questions are important because they allow you to go beyond simple facts. They encourage you to think and reflect deeper on yourself and your experience. Questions like, “What’s the purpose of our current project?” or “How can we make a positive impact on the community?” can help leaders and teams see the bigger picture and connect simple actions to broader goals.
Building Trust with Questions
Morgan points out that good questions can be part of building trust within a team. Leaders who demonstrate curiosity through questions can make their team feel valued for their perspective. The result of this is the creation of a space where everyone feels safe: a space that contributes to and facilitates collaborations. These are key aspects of the Seeing Things Whole approach to fostering healthy organizations.
Connecting to Seeing Things Whole
Our framework encourages leaders to integrate their personal values with organizational goals to have a lasting impact on the whole community. Asking questions like, “How does this decision align with our core values?” or “What benefits does this bring to the community?” helps make sure that the action taken by the organization is aligned with its mission and values.
Some Practical Tips for Leaders
Be Very Clear About Your Purpose:
Let your team know the reasons why you’re asking a powerful question.
Listen Actively:
Show that you are truly interested and care about their response.
Encourage Openness and Collaboration:
Create a safe space where your team feels comfortable sharing their thoughts so they can collaborate more effectively.
Conclusion
We hope this session underscores a useful and effective tool for leaders. Asking powerful questions fosters deeper thinking, builds trust, and helps connect everyday actions to a larger purpose. By integrating this approach, leaders can create more engaged, thoughtful, and impactful organizations.
Whole leaders reflect deeply on their own values and strengths as a means to take initiative and empower others. They thoroughly consider how their actions create impact and take a holistic view when making critical decisions.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?
Our Community Practice Cohort is designed to empower leaders by providing a collaborative space to enhance the leadership process and practice and gain insights around real-life leadership challenges and opportunities.
The Community Practice Cohort is accepting eight members from September 2024–June 2025 to embark on a 10-month collaborative journey toward effective leadership. Participants will gain practical skills and knowledge on leadership topics—like articulating a problem, communication, team collaboration, decision making—as well as personalized roundtables to focus on issues and skills directly related to your organization.
To learn more, please contact Program Director Keri Clifton at cliftonk@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1525.
You can schedule time with Keri to learn more about the opportunity — bit.ly/ScheduleReell
The Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole, in collaboration with Augsburg University’s Center for Adult and Continuing Education, is thrilled to launch its second online course: Strengthening and Articulating Your Path Forward.
Whole leaders reflect deeply on their own values and strengths as a means to take initiative and empower others. Strengthening and Articulating Your Path Forward offers a unique opportunity to develop understanding of yourself as a leader and articulate your own path forward. Utilizing Seeing Things Whole’s Whole People, Whole Leaders Framework, this reflective course walks you through several guided exercises that allow you to articulate your personal mission and “see the whole” of your life and leadership. By developing an understanding of your values and strengths, you’ll walk away with realistic goals that are aligned with your personal mission.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Identify your core values and dependable strengths
Identify your personal mission statement
Articulate a set of personal goals that are aligned with your mission statement
This is the second course in a Whole Leadership Development Series being offered by the Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole and Augsburg’s Center for Adult and Continuing Education. After completing the course, you will be invited to join a community of practitioners at Seeing Things Whole Roundtables hosted at Augsburg University.
IDEAL FOR
Those seeking to deepen their personal understanding of themselves as a leader
Those interested in aligning values with actions
Those interested in reflecting on their experiences and growing their potential
Over the years, Seeing Things Whole has brought together many leaders to support each other in the growth and development of their individual organizations. Bob Wahlstedt (co-founder of Reell Precision Manufacturing), Shari Erdman (current co-CEO at Reell Precision Manufacturing), and Tom Henry (former owner and CEO at Landry Bicycles) gathered recently to discuss a range of topics and reflect on the history of Seeing Things Whole in their businesses and in their lives. Central to those conversations were how Seeing Things Whole became frameworks for enacting a worldview in their business while also helping them to focus on what it meant to create a whole organization.
Utilizing Seeing Things Whole to Drive Meaningful and Purpose Driven Work
Seeing Things Whole provided language and a model for building an organizational culture at Reell Precision Manufacturing that aligned with their business operations where they can focus on growing and developing their coworkers to be all they can be. This allowed them to drive towards more meaningful and purpose driven work.
Why is Wholeness Essential to Leadership Practice?
They also discuss the nature of leading from a place of wholeness and how it can support leaders struggling with burnout today. As a practice of Seeing Things Whole, creating an environment where people can bring their whole selves to the workplace is needed to gain success across multiple bottoms.
As a leader, consider how you are seeking to “seeing things whole” in your work as you build an organization that can be successful across multiple bottom lines.