Thoughts on Leadership

This isn't a political post (I don't think) but I have been thinking about leadership in a new way since hearing American Presidential Candidate Barack Obama's landmark speech on race relations.  Since I've been alive I'm used to hearing politicians distance themselves from people and causes that can cause them harm.  It is natural perhaps, to thrust away from us those people and ideas that offend and cause damage.  However in listening to Mr. Obama talk about how he cares deeply for people on different sides of the racial rift, despite the imperfections of those people, it got me thinking about my own attitudes.

One of the issues I've been thinking about is the upcoming Olympic Games in China.  After reading the accounts of how the Chinese Government has been razing homes of the poor and the attacks against peaceful Tibetan protests, I've been tempted to boycott the Olympic Games and press Olympic Sponsors to do the same.

In a world where it seems that the "normal" thing to do is to push those you you disagree with away, perhaps it is time for a different kind of approach to conflict.    Perhaps the options are not just "avoid" or "agree" with our adversaries.  Perhaps the real leadership is being in relationship with those that you disagree with, and striving to build the kind of conversations that can lead to growth.

"I think you are wrong.  Let's be friends."

These are not revolutionary thoughts.   Certainly most of us have considered them on the smaller scale.  I wonder how the world could be different if we took them more seriously.

Just ideas.

Comments

[Jo]

We can only lead people the people we are willing to listen to?

I like the idea. Will I talk to at least one person today who is "wrong"? Who is the "wrongest" person I will talk to today? It would be a good approach.

[Dave]

I'm new to this site, which I discovered while searching for some good advice on some communication problems, as I see them, where I work. I love this site already, as I can see how resource rich it truly is! I have worked in the human services field for some 30 years and presently work on the management team of a lovely retirement community. I would rate the general level of cooperation, team spirit and morale here as average in some ways, and a little above in others - I've been aboard some better management teams; some worse. One area where things might be improved, is in our monthly management meetings. For one, while there is always a healthy mix of seriousness and levity, there is one particular team member who instigates an unhealthy degree or undercurrent of wisecracks and personal ridicule that sometimes goes beyond joking, at times even openly mimicking or mocking others on the team. This has, I assume, gone unnoticed - for years - by the team leader present. Another bad habit that goes unnoticed and unchecked, is for certain team members to save an issue they have with another colleague for the meeting, rather than discussing it upfront and prior to the meeting with the person whose department is thus affected. The team meeting gets used, therefore, as an opportunity to "zing" or blindside another team member. I have always made the effort to approach others with issues before broaching them in meetings, as this 1) builds better team rapport and, 2) solves problems with even better solutions and most often negates the need to raise many troublesome issues in meetings, at all. Has anyone else experienced these sorts of behaviors on the job - and are there any articles you might refer me to that address them?

[Cheri]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your comment – and I’m delighted that you are enjoying the blog. Here are a few links that may help with your team meetings.

http://blog.emergenceconsulting.net/2008/01/snide-comments.html
http://blog.emergenceconsulting.net/2008/02/effective-meeti.html
http://blog.emergenceconsulting.net/2007/06/effective_meeti.html

My best,

Cheri