Sometimes you read something and it just has a profound effect on you…more than you ever anticipated. I had this happen a few days ago when I was reading The Origins of Gordon Model by Tom Gordon.
I knew Tom for several years, and loved his compassion and wit and keen intelligence. He was always loving and supportive and accepting, and when you’re a teenager (as I was when I first met him), you are so grateful to have someone “see” you and “get” you it affects you deeply. But as a teenager, I didn’t realize the scope of Tom’s caring…not only did he care about me, a dorky teen with braces and glasses, he cared about the WORLD. Parents, children, leaders of government, colleagues, his family…everyone.
When I read the final paragraph of The Origins of the Gordon Model , I was reminded of the breadth of Tom’s vision. Through his programs, he believed that “such values as equal rights, 
respect for the needs of others, cooperation in relationships and peaceful resolution of conflicts may someday become universal.”
To have these values reign at home, a controlled environment, is one thing…to have them guide the managers and employees at your workplace is another. But that too was an integral part of Tom’s vision, and why his leadership training program is so vitally important.
Imagine going to work, and feeling valued, and heard, and empowered. Imagine that when you encounter an issue, or have a conflict with someone (because conflicts do happen and are entirely natural!) you have a method of dealing with them that doesn’t belittle or degrade the other person, and doesn’t force you to swallow your pride or “shut up and deal with it.” Imagine a company that encourages everyone to solve problems together and fully participate in the leadership of the organization. Imagine…
Tom Gordon did imagine…and his leadership training program, L.E.T., is a blueprint for making that vision a reality.
The grown-up in me appreciates that and is thankful for his life’s work, and the teenager in me just plain misses him.