True North Groups

It may be several years before I will be able to appreciate all the benefits from this "year off." I can see now that my research and thesis writing will serve me well down the road. Wednesday nights at the Center for Public Leadership are always inspirational and thought-provoking. But so far the most meaningful experience has been participating in a "True North Group," which we formed earlier this semester. This group, comprised of myself and four of my close friends, meets weekly for breakfast. Each session is dedicated to learning more about ourselves, our leadership, our purpose in life, and our vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Even with a just a few meetings under our belts, it has already been a humbling journey.

Our group is based on Bill George's book, True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership. Mr. George is a professor at the business school and former CEO of Medtronic. He accompanied us on our weekend retreat at the beginning of the year, and we had been kicking around the idea of starting a group all semester. We are using chapters in his book as a guide, but our (confidential) conversations allow each of us to push the boundaries of our comfort zones. During each session our dialogue shifts to what is most important for us in the moment. With full trust, we can talk freely, learning how to become better leaders by better understanding our insecurities, vulnerabilities, and hurdles to improving as human beings. It is rare to have a group where one can open up completely and know that critical feedback is given without judgment. It has helped keep me afloat this semester; I have found it cathartic, much like writing.

This model isn't new. It reminds me of the weekly "Men's Breakfast" that occurred every Tuesday morning at church when I was younger. Just like a Bible study, True North Groups are a chance to reflect and refocus. They are an alignment, which is why I chose the picture above. "North" is pointing about 20 degrees to the left, a slightly different direction than the one we wish to go. But the weekly grind can throw us off course. Each week an adjustment is needed.

Our plan is to meet in person through the end of the school calendar year. After that, some of us will leave town permanently. We haven't talked about what to do next, but many groups meet via Google Hangouts or Skype. I can see how important something like this will be throughout residency, when it can be easy to get off track, and North will become less straight forward. I've seen doctors who treat patients as problems instead of people, and a group like this can help make sure that never happens to me.

Even if a group isn't based on a particular book, I recommend that everyone try out the concept. I don't think it is ever too late to start learning how to be vulnerable, and I wish I can started earlier. You can't do it alone. Some groups have been together for over 35 years... maybe we will too.