STW Blog

Augsburg University is expanding its offerings to support leaders to fully engage in meaningful work. Through a new continuing education course, leaders can learn to reflect deeply on their own values in relation to their actions.

The Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole, in collaboration with Augsburg University’s Center for Adult and Continuing Education, is thrilled to offer its first online course: “Foundations for Whole Leadership.”

Foundations for Whole Leadership explores the leadership framework Seeing Things Whole which cultivates whole leaders and thriving organizations to positively impact the common good. In this self-paced course, participants will grow their understanding of Servant Leadership, explore Seeing Things Whole’s Threefold Model of Individual Life, and apply the model to a personal leadership goal. Through deep reflection and real-life application of the model, individuals will walk away with a framework for tackling individual challenges in life and at work.

“We’re delighted to be launching Foundations for Whole Leadership to support leaders navigating today’s challenges,” says program director, Keri Clifton. “This course is our first online offering seeking to support leaders who want to find meaning in their work.” Through this self-paced online offering, leaders can learn at their own pace and gain new perspectives about themselves and those around them.

This is the first offering in a Whole Leadership Development Series with future courses currently under development. The Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole also hosts Whole Leader Roundtables monthly which allow leaders the opportunity to network and provide insight to each other’s challenges.

For more information, connect with Seeing Things Whole’s Program Director Keri Clifton.

E.B. White wrote that the role of the artist is to “see things whole.” These three words underlie a leadership philosophy that cultivates whole leaders and thriving organizations to positively impact the common good. Following a generous gift in 2022, Augsburg University has established an institutional home to support and extend this practice: the Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole. 

First developed in the early 1990s, Seeing Things Whole is a three-fold model that helps individuals and organizations think about their lives as a set of relationships among three key dimensions—identity, purpose, and stewardship. The Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole connects Augsburg’s mission of educating students as responsible stewards and thoughtful leaders to the way organizations engage in meaningful, purpose-driven work in the world. 

“The three dimensions of Seeing Things Whole align well with Augsburg’s commitment to educate for lives of service,” said Tom Morgan, professor of leadership studies, who introduced Seeing Things Whole to Augsburg in 2016, integrating it into the Master of Arts and Leadership and Master of Business Administration programs. 

“No matter what the chosen discipline or professional aspiration, learning is best grounded in clarity regarding one’s values (their Identity), thoughtful consideration of who it is they desire to serve (their Purpose), and an abiding sense of how one’s resources are acquired and are being cared for (their Stewardship).”

Seeing Things Whole offers a disciplined process to support leaders who seek greater connection between their organizational values and the challenge of navigating today’s accelerating changes in the workplace. 

“I feel energized to support leaders’ ability to think critically about the unique times in which we find ourselves while remaining deeply rooted to the values that support them to thrive,” said Keri Clifton, program director. 

The Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole encourages individuals and organizations to participate in Whole Leader Roundtables, where attendees work collaboratively to understand all dimensions of a given problem, explore tensions, and work toward achieving an effective resolution for all stakeholders and across multiple bottom lines. Monthly roundtables are free and open to the public. Register now to attend the next roundtable on March 8. 

Teams and organizations can apply the three-fold model to a wide variety of challenges, including strategic planning, strategic decision-making, succession planning, governance, and developing organizational mission, vision, and values. At the individual level, Seeing Things Whole offers a pathway to creating stronger connections between one’s values, sense of purpose, and leadership action. Individuals can begin exploring Seeing Things Whole as a tool for growth by completing the Whole Leader Profile at no cost. 

To learn more, sign up for a roundtable, or start a conversation about how the three-fold model can positively impact your work or organization, contact the Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole.

The Reell Office of Seeing Things Whole was pleased to welcome Keri Clifton as its first Program Director in Fall 2022.

Keri brings passion and excitement for supporting individuals and organizations to thrive through effective programming, sustained engagement, and continuous development. She is committed to serving others for the advancement of the common good. Keri has a breadth of experience in non-profit program development, management, and fundraising in the fields of community development, arts, and mental health education and advocacy. Keri holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Leadership from Augsburg University, Minneapolis, MN to be completed in 2023.