Marcia Ballinger and Lars Leafblad of Ballinger | Leafblad are the two Pollenites behind one of the 14 values-driven businesses that have come together in support of Pollen’s mission to invest in human connection. Together, they challenge Pollenites to raise $15,000 by Give to the Max Day on November 16, which they will match dollar for dollar. Match he hive and donate today.
Photo by Bobby Rogers
Ballinger | Leafblad serves as leadership search and transition advisors for organizations who value and practice inclusive, public, and participatory search and selection methodologies. They do this work with integrity, collaboration, excellence, and community as their core values.
How do social media and digital platforms influence how you’re able to connect?
They allow us to listen more closely, more broadly, and more deeply to the constituencies that comprise our client and candidate networks. We’re able to give and take much more directly and much more quickly with those who seek to better understand, share, or engage with any of our client engagements.
On a practical level, social media allows us to stay connected quickly and broadly with leaders in many communities we serve.
We’re able to give and take much more directly and much more quickly.
Do you separate your personal network from your business network? How are they related? How are they different?
Lars Leafblad: I live my life like an open Facebook. It’s a pretty blended reality. I take business personally no matter my best efforts to keep them separate. It’s one of the unique challenges of being an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs with a dominant “NF” centrality to who I am.
Marcia Ballinger: Like Lars, I am an “NF” who frequently finds that business and personal relationships blend together. In search, we get to know people very well and I consider that a great gift.
I take business personally no matter my best efforts to keep them separate.
Do you have a favorite mantra or quote to keep you going and inspired?
Lars: Higher Power, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Marcia: For many years, I have pasted this poem on the front page of my calendar (yes, I have a paper calendar):
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
—John Donne
Join Marcia and Lars:
DONATE TO MATCH THE HIVE TODAY
Find Ballinger | Leafblad and give them an online hug for supporting Pollen.
t: @marciaballinger and @larsleafblad
f: facebook.com/BLSearch
w: ballingerleafblad.com