LEADING & LEADERSHIP

“The day of the HERO LEADER is dead!” The world has moved beyond the time when the major challenges organisations face can be met by the great individual leader. The myth of the Hero Leader, the perfect CEO is alive and well in business, sports teams, and local and national politics.  We expect ever more from our leaders and invest highly in their miraculous powers to drive performance and “turn things around”.  We are quick to criticize and blame when they don’t live up to our unrealistic expectations.  We delegate leadership upwards rather than each taking accountability for our own roles and that of the whole system of which we are an integral part.

 

Many use the term “leadership development” when what they are actually talking about is “leader development”.  The focus being squarely on individuals, when what is called for in order to successfully lead, perform and sustain – is collective leadership.   And an understanding of not only the external environment but also the internal dynamics of how the whole system of an organisation works.

 

Leadership doesn’t reside in individuals.  It is always relational, with dynamic roles that are capable of shifting – being the leader and a follower collaborating on a shared endeavour.  Many Leaders have IQ ( technical knowledge, expertise ) many times greater than their EQ, ( knowing self and relating skills )  let alone any connection to SQ ( Creating meaning, purpose, passion and living shared values ).  They are by nature, overly individualistic, reactive and less skilled or motivated to collaborate.