Thinking Aloud: Thoughts on Leadership and Human Development

This book is a collection of introspective thoughts of Theodore U. Ferguson, the author and developer of the leadership development programme, Leading From Above The Line. The philosophy underpinning this programme is anchored in a belief in the fundamental goodness of the human being. Human beings are seen as fundamentally moral and with a deep desire to live moral lives—to be above the moral line. In this book the author shares his insights into and understanding of various aspects of human development and of leadership in the context of our varied social and working environments. It is hoped that the thoughts presented in this book will help readers to get a deeper understanding of their own humanity and of the humanity of others. The author believes that when we discover our humanity, we open doors for the expression of our full human potential and for the release of our ability to extend love and compassion to others. Leadership development is about self-development, which comes from enhanced moral consciousness and the strengthening of our inner power. The Leading From Above The Line programme seeks to build the inner self through the cultivation of the Five Sources of Our Inner Power—Principle Consciousness, Purpose, Emotional Mastery, Understanding Change and Knowledge Empowerment. The thoughts are structured around the Five Sources of Our Inner Power and are intended to work as points or triggers for private reflection, introspection and self-development.

Theodore Ferguson is an agricultural scientist by training, who lectured at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies for 17 years. Now, he is a leadership educator, and a passionate advocate for a principled leadership ethos that springs from man's own humanity and is reinforced and shared in a social space. His is a philosophy in which his thoughts coalesced, and clarified themselves. This all occurred in an environment where his caged spirit had been bruised, battered and broken. It is from this reality, this journey, that his philosophy, "Leading From Above The Line", took form and grew. In his journey, and over many teachings, he has learnt that one needs to become more conscious of the destructive power and influence of the "inflated ego", which has a way of emerging and blinding us to our true intentions. According to Dr. Ferguson, his body of work is a message that speaks to our innate human goodness and to man's desire to live moral lives, in a world that seeks to normalise immorality. His message recognises the tremendous development potential of human beings, and their capacity to realise that potential through the harnessing of five sources of inner power: principle consciousness, awareness of purpose; emotional mastery; understanding change; and knowledge empowerment. Dr. Ferguson has shared this philosophy internationally. He has worked with regional and international organisations, governments, state corporations, private and pubic sector organisations, professionals and, most important, the youth.