MY VOICE MY LENS: Part 3 - Leadership, Trust, and Self-Portrait Photography
“I have often been asked what I want to prove by my photographs. The answer is: I don’t want to prove anything. They prove to me, and I am the one who gets the lesson.”
Lisette Model: Photojournalist, Teacher, Guggenheim Fellow
Weegee, Portrait of Lisette Model, 1945
“Through My Voice My Lens, I’ve come to appreciate that one of the most effective ways to build lasting connections with others and to create an environment of transparency, openness and trust is to use the power of storytelling to share our stories of love, triumph, trial and tribulation, and what we learned from them. This not only accelerates the trust building process, but also creates an environment where people are willing to lean in and try new things; that is when learning, growth and innovation begins.”
Dennis Woo, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2019
Ponder, Dennis Woo, Cohort 8, 2019, My Voice My Lens, Wave Financial
LIVING THE QUESTION
Backstory/1
The Arts Matter!
In retrospect, for many years now I’ve been wondering: how can I prove (to myself? to my students?) that “the arts truly matter?” - that meaningful creative experiences have compelling substance which can strengthen our hearts and nourish our souls?”
As always, it was my leader-heroes’ voices – generous, wise students, teachers and colleagues all - at the Toronto Heschel School (1996-2021), The Aphasia Institute (2013-2015), and Wave Financial (2016-present) who substantiated, time and time again through their artworks and words, that the arts do indeed matter in deeply personal and multitudes of ways.
Backstory/2
The Art of Trust
As leaders, in all walks of life, we wonder: in order to truly succeed in our respective endeavors, how can we create and foster a foundational culture of trust?... and... How can we extend trust as ‘a catalyst that binds people together and shapes the way they relate and communicate to each other’?
* paraphrased from The How Report, 2016, Human Operating Systems, pg.12
Backstory/3
Trust in Leadership
I was introduced to the ubiquitous influence of ‘trust’ by Ashira* during our Introductory My Voice My Lens workshop at Wave. Its impact on each leader-participant was immediate and enduring: an essential, rich theme thoughtfully explored and questioned in self-portraiture and artists’ statements throughout all workshops and culminating exhibitions.
* Ashira Gobrin: Chief People and Culture Officer and Co-Creator My Voice My Lens: Leadership Through Self-Portrait Photography at Wave Financial, Executive Coach, Graphologist
With these ‘big questions’ in mind: I invite you to “read” these illustrious Lensers’ self-portraits and excerpts from artist’s statements – in a “leader’s mindset”.
Great leaders cultivate and uphold a ‘culture of trust’ by:
modelling empathy
Crystal Clear, Sara Durning, My Voice My Lens, Cohort 7, 2019
“It was fascinating to see the power photos had in bridging roles, skills, backgrounds, cultures. The stories shared by each artist showed that we have more in common than not. As humans, none of us are immune to feeling overwhelmed, insecure, or unsure in our personal lives or at work. As a leader, I can be sensitive to others’ feelings and create an open, safe, respectful environment for success and well-being to flourish.”
Sara Durning, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2019
nurturing meaningful connectedness
Hand Tools 4, Felix Crux, Cohort 4 2018, My Voice My Lens, Wave Financial
“We all cherish and long for these moments of honesty, openness, and connection. ... By putting together a structured setting and a framework for having these conversations, My Voice My Lens has given us the chance to try out different levels of openness, different probing questions, different ways of talking to others about these topics, and different areas to open up about; and afforded us a safe setting to practice building meaningful connections.”
Felix Crux, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2018
embracing complexity
Warmth and Light, Katie Silinka, My Voice My Lens, Cohort 2, 2017, Wave Financial
“To me this was an interesting (and accidental) surfacing of my reality - the light representing how I try to let others view me, and the shadow representing all hidden aspects of myself that others do not see. Then, in the middle, you have the person who is both light and shadow and is a constant of those 2 things in motion. The intensity of the facial expression invites the viewer to see this duality of light and shadow, and to ask questions not only about the artist but about themselves too.”
Katie Silinka, Artist’s Statement, Workshop 2/Light & Shadow, 2017
enabling openness to seeing diverse perspectives
Wonder: Never Cease, Lawrence Levinson, Cohort 10, 2021, My Voice My Lens, Wave Financial
“Week 2 was amazing: filled with the exhilaration of a new collective, artistic expression, lessons of leadership, and an immediate openness to share without judgement... How incredible it was to see such dramatically different perspectives - that struck so deeply with the same subject and were so entirely contrary to my own; all were correct.”
Lawrence Levinson, Culminating Artist’s Statement, Workshop 2, Cohort 10/Light & Shadow, 2021
advocating open-ended questioning
2 Paths - Decisions To Make, Mitra Khatibi, My Voice My Lens, Cohort 6, 2018, Wave Financial
“I found my voice through the process of taking pictures, and using that to engage my team, ask open-ended questions, and set a positive tone. Having a sense of humility, presence and integrity is what shapes a great leader.”
We have trust when our team members aren’t afraid of pushing each other to greatness, and we know they are doing this because they care.
Mitra Khatibi, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2018
acknowledging unsettledness
In Stride, Rob Van Oostrum, My Voice My Lens, Cohort 3, 2017, Wave Financial
“What an unexpected adventure this has been... Here we are, a few months later, things in motion... a little unsettled, a little off-balance, but feeling profoundly safe and at home. I’m just excited for what’s next... So, I’m going to keep putting my hand up, and ask “what more can I do, what’s next?” and hope that I can in turn inspire a few people to do the same.”
Rob Van Oostrum, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2017
exemplifying overcoming assumptions
Inwards, Dina Goldshtein, Cohort 7, 2019, My Voice My Lens, Wave Financial
“Overcoming assumptions has shown me that each person is so beautifully unique, has been through their own share of experiences... In removing my assumptions and trusting more, I’ve been able to truly hear others and connect with them and speak in a way that is meaningful to both of us.”
Dina Goldshtein, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2018
challenging with honest feedback
Multi-Monitor Glare, Joseph Chan, My Voice My Lens, Cohort 6, 2018, Wave Financial
“Getting feedback from others has taught me that the interpretation of your work can be very different from the image you try to capture. Much like the image you perceive others have of you can be very different from what they are actually thinking. Challenging your self-perception versus those of your peers leads to greater understanding and builds trust.”
Joseph Chan, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2018
encouraging others to ‘see you’ through your passions
Inspiration, Krista Gerard, My Voice My Lens,Cohort 9, 2019, Wave Financial
“When presenting our photos week to week, I often caught myself feeling uncomfortable by having to invite others in and allowing myself to become vulnerable and visible with a group of people I hardly knew. I think letting people view my photography as an art, just like dance, helped me express myself in a way I didn't realize was possible… and build trust in others.”
Krista Gerard, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2020
emboldening leader-team-leader confidence
Untitled, Joseph Kahn, My Voice My Lens, Cohort 8, 2019, Wave Financial
“My leads and I have shared a high degree of trust. I’ve often been given free reign and appropriate resources to solve large problems. As a developer on the team, it was empowering to be told that my decisions and requirements would be accepted with little questioning beyond an explanation of my plan. This also resulted in a high degree of trust on my part, where I trusted them to provide me these opportunities when available and to understand when they were not.”
Joseph Kahn, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2019
enlivening playfulness
Juggling, Todd Wongkee, My Voice My Lens Cohort 10, 2021 Wave Financial
“The playful exercise of finding different aspects of light and how to interact with the camera, the light and myself was challenging. The resulting colours do have meanings that are not always seen but are always present. I am thoughtful and reflective in this image, looking inward while the colours play across the frame.... outside of my head.”
Todd Wongkee, Culminating Artist’s Statement, Workshop1, Cohort 10/Introducing Myself, 2021
leading with generosity
Gardening, Nadia Rauch, My Voice My Lens, V2/Image and Identity, 2019, Wave Financial
“What is the effect of “Generosity” on Trust, and how does it connect to leadership? The easy answer is that Trust is fundamental for a leader and Generosity is one of its levers… Digging deeper: a generous leader can bring out the best from one’s team members and push them to focus on their expertise or passion where they can succeed... and give their team opportunities to use and maximize their strength, and provide them with honest feedback - to push them to contribute more.”
Nadia Rauch, Culminating Artist’s Statement, V2/Image and Identity, 2019
leading from the heart
Alex Lazar, My Voice Through MY Lens, Cohorts 1 & 2, 2013-2014. Aphasia Institute
CW: Toronto Challenge, 2014, Poet of Simplicity and Pure Form, 2014, Remember The Time 2013, My Body, 2013
Remember The Time
Q: How did your camera help you?
1. document my different feelings
2. tell my life story when I don’t have words
3. the photographs speak for themselves
Q: How did My Voice Through My Lens change you?
1. I am more self-confident
2. I am more visible
Alex Lazar, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2014
* co-created by Alex and a skilled conversation partner/scribe, The Aphasia Institute, 2014
Conclusion:
And... thus:
These inspiring images and words portray only a fraction of the multitude of ways we as leaders shape and implement “trust constructs”; nevertheless, each on its own is an exemplary expression of a vibrant, meaningful, lived experience.
Essentially, these models ‘say it all’ re: my vision and mission for this, my passion project.
Thoughts most welcome!
Looking forward!
j
Inspirational Teachers I Draw On
1. Ansel Adams, Melton Ferris, Dorothea Lange, Ernest Louie, Barbara Morgan, Beaumont Newhall, Nancy Newhall, Dody Warren, and Minor White
Founders of Aperture Magazine - a quarterly journal specializing in photography, founded in 1952
2. Stephen M. R. Covey
educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker
author: The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, 2006
3. Mavis Staples
legendary singer (gospel, soul, blues, spanning 7 decades), civil rights activist, philanthropist
4. Jose Parlá
resilient visual artist
* see: An Artist Returns From the Edge - New York Times, Arts Section,
August 1, 2022
5. Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo di Caprio):
“Step up on the railing. Hold on, hold on. Keep your eyes closed.”
Q: “Do you trust me?"
and
Rose Dewitt Bukateri (played by Kate Winslett):
A: “I trust you."
Titanic, 1997, Directed by James Cameron
Blog 8: Leadership, Vulnerability, and Self-Portrait Photography
In my upcoming post, I will delve deeper into the ‘workplace culture of trust’: how purpose-inspired, value-based, empathetic leaders embrace “vulnerability.” I will continue to draw on my Wave and Aphasia Institute Lensers’ self-portraits and artists’ statements - as empirical evidence illuminating: ’the arts do indeed matter!’... and… ‘‘they prove to me, and I am the one who gets the lesson!’.
Hasta la proxima!
“This idea of “perfection” has taken up my space and my time, and I’ve allowed it to turn into a narrative. It’s a constraint I had placed upon myself without even realizing it, and My Voice My Lens allowed me to reconsider the constraints I’ve placed, and more importantly - the reasons behind them. I have more to give, and perfection isn’t what’s most important as I grow into the fullest version of myself as a human, and as a Leader.”
Kat Torangeau, Culminating Artist’s Statement, 2020
Flower Patch, Kat Toronangeau, My Voice My Lens, Cohort 9, 2020
