Sometimes there are things you want to write about that are really hard to articulate.

I’ve been engaging in some important topics on Twitter (which is never more than scratching the surface) that I want to write about in more depth here but it seems that the move from 140 characters to 750 words is hard.

I’m scared to start writing because I don’t know where to stop or how to break it up into manageable chunks (manageable for you to read as much as for me to write; you are busy; you don’t need a monograph from me).

Here are some of the issues I’m mulling over. I’m going to try to write about them.

Expect multiple posts on each. Possibly a lack of coherence. I want to contribute to a conversation. I’d love to hear your thoughts (in the comments, in an e-mail, in your own blog post linked here through a comment, or contact me in whichever way is easiest for you.)

• women and leadership (new Twitter hashtag: #femlead and chat coming; not my idea but I’m on board)
• a different take on service, saying no, saying yes, and how that might link to leadership
• actively managing your career, promotion, and related stuff

When I write it like that it all looks like the same thing. Or, aspects of the same thing. Maybe that helps you see why it hasn’t been written as posts.

When I think about those issues I also realize that it isn’t just about women though it is about gender. Patriarchy is also a system of power amongst men, after all.

I’m also thinking that there is something in here about asking the right questions. My frustration with some debates around higher ed and about women and leadership is that the questions might not be helping us find solutions or ways forward.

There is also the question of perspective. If I’m giving you, as an individual, advice about how to navigate the system, then there are certain things about the system that we just have to accept as given (at least for now). If I’m talking about how the system could be better and how we can act to bring about that kind of change, my perspective is different.

Complexity. It’s all about complexity.

I’m going to stop there. If you have thoughts, ideas, a wish list of where you’d like me to try to start, let me know.

Post recategorized Sept 21, 2015.