[Simon's Reflections] Contemplations on the Essence of Leadership
Date:
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:22:44 -0700
From:
Simon Goland
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SimonsReflectionsList-owner@yahoogroups.com
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: Today’s Reflection contains some thoughts about leadership. In a : couple of months, I am teaching a course at the Justice Institute: of BC, titled "The Art of Creative Leadership" and was asked to write: an article for their newsletter. I might as well share it here too.The Art of Creative Leadership“Platoon, be ready to leave at 21:00 sharp. This is our first mission, and I will be making sure everybody is fully ready and prepared,” were my words. This was the first platoon of soldiers I had direct responsibility over, and I was eager to make sure we complete the operation, and come back alive. It was the Israeli army, and I was just over eighteen years of age, sergeant and a platoon commander, leading them to our first mission. I was excited and nervous at the same time, looking forward to prove myself with the responsibility that was given to me. In retrospect, this was probably also the first moment I learned that “leadership is a serious and responsible business.” After all, we were dealing with people’s lives.Many years have gone by, and many other leadership roles with them. Just like many others around me, I took my leadership responsibilities and roles very seriously. We must meet the budget. Deliver the product on time. Manage the project properly and according to the latest standards. Prepare the new course outline according to the requirements of the review committee. All important and serious leadership (and management) tasks, that have to be approached with the utmost level of responsibility.While it is certainly true, and I don’t want to minimize the importance of responsibility in the role of any leader, this is only a partial picture. There is a lot more to leadership than that.If we ask people of all levels of many organizations to define leadership, there will rarely be much agreement in the room. The understanding of leadership is highly fragmented, with hundreds of definitions, ideas, theories, models, competencies, and skills. Some will say leaders are born. Others will say leaders are made. Perhaps leadership is a calling that simply lands in your lap one day. Quite a few will equate leadership with the leader, focusing on a person, while others think leadership is potentially everywhere. Many will see leadership as a lonely role and task, whereby one carries all the accountability and responsibility on their shoulders.Despite the countless theories and definitions of leadership, there are also some core similarities that are emerging in the leadership trends in this 21st century. The keys to the leadership (and management) kingdom are changing hands, and we are beginning to look more and more for leaders who focus not only on the task, but also on the people behind the task. We are beginning to look for leaders who can engage the human body, mind, and soul – theirs and those of their followers – despite the seriousness of the tasks at hand. We are looking for leaders who can tap into our creativity, imagination, intuition, and humour, and create the environment where we can unleash our best skills and talents. We want to bring our whole self to work, without checking parts of ourselves at the door. We want to be inspired and engaged. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. It is a human-based, human-centered, and human-focused activity, which comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. While there is a need to remember the responsibilities and the tasks, there is at least as much need to remember the human behind them. It is not about neglecting the responsibilities and the “serious business” at hand; it is about remembering to lighten up while taking care of business.With such leaders, we become energized, excited, productive, and full of joyful and creative energy. Whether in the workplace, our community, or the army, people will follow the leader who engages and inspires their spirit and soul.:: "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to:: collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather:: teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”:: - Antoine de Saint-ExuperyA sunny week to you all, inside and out.:: From The Four Corners:: This is a new section of the newsletter, featuring news, ideas,:: moments of inspiration of something someone somewhere is doing:: that is making a difference in the world.About a week ago, in a First Nation store and gallery, a little book jumped into my hand and told me I needed to get it. I did. "The Best of Chief Dan George" is a collection of writings by Chief Dan George, who writes about Canada, about his people, and about the environment. It is touching, beautiful, inspiring, and sad at the same time. Chief Dan George was a performer (remember "Little Big Man" with Dustin Hoffman?), a poet, a philosopher, and a teacher.If you talk to the animals they will talk with youand you will know each other.If you do not talk to them you will not know them,and what you do not know you will fear.What one fears one destroys.:: Simon’s Reflections newsletter is published on a:: bi-weekly basis and contains writings that touch:: the heart, provoke the mind, and inspire action.:: And I do welcome your thoughts and comments.SimonArchives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SimonsReflectionsListAbout Simon: http://www.SimonGoland.com-- “Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world - empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty.”http://www.kiva.org/app.php__._,_.___
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