Reflections on leadership from the streets of Paris. Having visited Paris several times I have found inspiration and instruction from the culture, the people and the aesthetics. From the Arc de Triomphe, to the window box, to the streets below, there are lessons to be learned from observation.

1. PARISIAN REFLECTIONS
On Leadership

2. LEADERSHIP MIX
One of the things Paris taught
me was to explore details. Like
the etching in this door knocker,
function and beauty combine
through elegant craftsmanship.
A leader can only hope to bring
all these elements together.

3. UNEXPLORED
BYWAYS
I love getting lost in the twists
and turns of Paris.
There is a heightening of the
senses that comes from allowing
ourselves to traverse the
uncharted.
As a leader, we must often face
new and unusual dimensions.

4. BALANCE
Even a meal of bread, cheese
and fruit reflects balance.
The artful placement of flowers
and food on a table can bring an
aesthetic balance to life.

5. PEOPLE PASSION
Sharing a meal in a Parisian's
apartment included diverse,
interesting conversation.
Leaders can strengthen and
build sustainable relationships
by listening to different
passions and perspectives

7. BEING PROUD
I witnessed an induction ceremony
at the Arc de Triomphe.
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
Having a relative’s name etched in
the Arc brought a connection I
had not expected.
Leaders give stakeholders reason
to be proud.

9. DOWN TIME
One morning, I watched people
below waiting outside a shop
from my chamber window.
A reminder that there will
probably always be downtime
and that limiting it is an
important part of strategy,
planning and leadership.

10. UNIQUENESS
While we are all similar it is the
individual uniqueness that a
leader learns to celebrate.
In aiming for a goal, there are
many pathways—one as
interesting as the next.
How the goal is reached may not
be as important as reaching it.

11. TAKE PAUSE
Stop and smell the flowers.
Paris is full of flowers that are
pleasing to the senses.
It is a reminder to de-stress our
lives; to build in ways to reboot.
It also reminders us that using all
your senses creates clearer
communication.

12. THOUGHTS ON
LEADERSHIP
Peter Zehren has worked in the
nonprofit sector for years helping
organizations refine missionbased, results driven fundraising.
His strength in launching new
technologies and innovative strategies
have increased fundraising efforts by
over 30% in one year alone.
He attributes his success to remaining
More about Peter Zehren
open to the art of the possible.