By understanding the context in which he painted Vetheuil in Winter, I could relate to Monet’s feelings of abandonment and hopelessness. Like most of us, I have experienced these same feelings before in my life, and his painting returned me to that aching feeling of loss. I was amazed that even across the centuries, Monet’s painting had the power to infiltrate me at so deep a level. Yet, paradoxically, his sad painting made me happy.
What has this to do with leadership? A lot. Every day, leaders interact with people without knowing much of their backgrounds, and we rarely pause to find out more. It’s as if we are moving quickly through a museum but not focusing on any of the portraits. Without a richer, deeper connection to people, how can we expect to inspire them, or become catalysts for their great performance?
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