On Becoming a Leader (Introduction & Chapter 1... up to p. 32)

Hi KP's!

We are off on a deep exploration of the question, "what is leadership" with none other than widely respected leadership pioneer Warren Bennis as our guide. On Becoming a Leader (written in 1989, updated in 2009) is a thorough look at leadership from a geopolitical perspective. It is going to be deep and wide, but if you stay engaged with Bennis over the next weeks, he will challenge your perspective of leadership in important (perhaps even transformational) ways.

As you dig into the intro and first chapters, you're going to see that Bennis draws his philosophy of leadership from historical, economic, technological, political and business contexts. Giving examples of flawed leadership and the proposition of what happens in our world devoid of strong leadership, Bennis builds toward his recommendations. He reminds us that after the 9-11 tragedy, that even suffering didn't produce leadership that could draw us together as a nation with a vision of who we should become, nor how to achieve such a thing.

A study conducted by the University of Michigan determined that the lack of quality management and leadership in today's institutions is in to top 3 causes of crises in our emerging world.

Bennis posits that there are 3 basic reasons that leaders are important (p. 5)

1) They are responsible for effectiveness within organizations.
2) They inspire us and restore our hope.
3) They maintain the integrity and longevity of our national institutions.

Even within these first pages, we already see a tension between LEVEL 1 motivation (Survival, self-sustaining) and LEVEL 7 motivation (Service, the greater good). "There has always been a tension in the American character between individual rights and the common good." On one hand, James Madison, one of our founding fathers said, "the public good...the real welfare of the great body of people...is the supreme object to be pursued." Calvin Coolidge in the 1920's, however, purported, "The business of America is business." Capitalism or Humanity seems to be the tension we live in.

Early on, Bennis coins a term "authentic leadership". Perhaps as we read, you will define for yourself what it means to be an authentic leader.

Bennis draws our attention to the chronic epidemic of short-term thinking (and rewards) as a strategy for success. Hold a place in your thinking for how often this strategy shows up and whether or not it is adequate for the many responsibilities effective leadership demands.

And we begin thinking about the privilege and power possessed by the everyday citizen.  "One person can matter...a citizen can matter in this country." We want to think about, how can citizens step up and take their rightful authority and responsibilities within Ebco and our teams.  Bennis makes an interesting and challenging assertion: the first step of a leader, then, is to recognize the context for what it is - and declare your independence. What on earth could he mean? Keep reading to find out!

Another theme that emerges early is that of learning from failure. I don't know about you, but for me, that puts leading and learning in a much more attainable light. I used to have to a boss that would continually encourage prominent leaders in crisis, "lean into the pain." There is some key to success in failure; let's see if we can find out what this is about.

We are also starting to hear about the marriage in leadership between character and competence. We will talk about these more when we talk about the EQ Skill of Trustworthiness and how trust is built.  In the example Bennis sites about working with would-be leader, Ed, ultimately Bennis saw lack of character as too great a problem to be able to recommend Ed for an executive position. Character matters.

To the contrary, Norman Lear (American television writer & producer) is held up as an example of leadership 'done right", but why exactly? "Norman Lear had a guiding vision, a belief in himself, a belief that he could make a difference..." He was inspired by the advice he received to, "Find out what it is that you're about, and be that!"

Fellow learners, I encourage you all to hold onto the idea of "full self-expression" that Bennis uses in the example of Lear. This will becoming a talking point and possibly a turning-point for many of us. Discovering who you are is going to be a critical piece of this full self-expression.

Let's end on this inspiring and curious ideal: "The first step toward change is to refuse to be deployed by others and to choose to deploy yourself." (p. 31)

EQ SKILL #1: EMOTIONAL SELF-AWARENESS

Pay attention to your thoughts, because they become words.

Pay attention to your words, because they become feelings.

Pay attention to your feelings, because they become decisions.

Pay attention to your decisions, because they become actions.

Pay attention to your actions, because they become habits.

Pay attention to your habits, because they become your character.

Pay attention to your character, because it is your fate.

Adapted from the Talmud (Jewish Sacred Text)

Philosophy of Leadership

Hey CKPs!

It really was great to think with ya'll yesterday and it was fun to hear how you all have processed through some ideas about leadership to craft a definition through your own lens.  Since your Philosophy of Leadership (POL) statements were so meaty, I know we'd each enjoy the chance to read them again. Thanks for all who are willing to share by posting them here!

If anyone has questions or comments about anything we talk about in our time together feel free to send me an email.

Y'all have a fantastic week!

Here is an article by John Mayer (not that one) whom I mentioned in class today as one of the early social psychologists that developed theories of multiple intelligences. You might enjoy reading this in your free time ;).

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201403/know-thyself

See you the 24th!

Jodi