Connected In Community

Leadership Ladder: What Rung Are You Leading From?

Moira McCaskill — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:00:36 +0000

Earlier this year, I read a review of a book entitled "Leadership Agility" by Bill Joiner and Stephen Josephs (the article was entitled “Loftier Rungs on the Leadership Ladder” by Harvey Schachter, The Globe and Mail, April 18, 2008). I have given copies to many of my coaching clients and continue to find the description of a leadership ladder encouraging. With apologies to the book's authors, I have yet to purchase and read the book, but would like to share the concepts I learned from The Globe and Mail review of it. Joiner and Josephs studied over 600 managers and defined a ladder of leadership development: Expert Level: 45% of managers were here on the bottom rung of the ladder (10% were not even on the ladder). Expert level leaders rely on subject-matter expertise and positional authority. They have a tactical and analytical orientation. Achiever Level: 35% of managers are on this next rung where they realize that their power comes not only from their own expertise and authority but also from motivating others. By making it challenging and satisfying for others to contribute to the organization’s goals, these leaders can be highly effective in moderately complex environments. These first two levels form 90% of today’s managers (including the 10% who didn't even make it onto the ladder!). They operate from a mindset Joiner and Josephs call “heroic” - “they assume sole responsibility for setting the organization’s objectives, coordinating the activities of their subordinates, and managing performance”. Post-heroic leadership contains three higher levels: Catalyst Level: 5% of managers are on this rung. They articulate an innovative and inspiring vision, bring together and empower the right people to make the vision reality and act as facilitator. These leaders seek an open exchange of views and engagement with diverse stakeholders. Co-Creator Level: 4% of managers are at this level where there is an understanding that everything is interdependent and a commitment to the common good. These leaders often pioneer new forms of organizations and include corporate responsibility in their bottom line. They have high emotional resilience and capacity for dialogue, collaboration and creating win-win solutions. Synergist Level: Only 1% of managers are at this rarified level. They have an ability to collaborate with others in real-time because they can “enter fully into the moment-to-moment flow of their present experience”. The capacity to be attuned to the situation and needs of others, even in contentious and chaotic circumstances, allows these leaders to “stand in the eye of the storm”, have “synergistic intuitions”, and “transform seemingly intractable conflicts into solutions that are beneficial for all parties”. The authors found that as leaders climb into the post-heroic levels they become more sensitive to others and can monitor their own and others' feelings as they interact. Forty percent (40%) of these leaders had a regular meditation practice and another 10% meditated less regularly. Some reported that therapy had helped them understand their own impulses. Why do I find these findings encouraging? I love how a text that studied managers in business settings found that the leaders at the highest level were relying on a capacity to be present in the moment and enter into their experience fully - something that I believe strongly is true and usually associated with spiritual teachers like Eckhart Tolle and others. I love that meditation, emotional attunement and self-awareness were cited as important by these leaders. This was confirmation of the value of practices that are not often associated with leadership in the business world - practices dear to my heart! I love how the ladder is a progression from “heroic” efforts from the individual ego, to facilitation and collaboration with others, to “synergistic intuition” in the moment - what I would call connecting to higher energies and deeper ways of knowing. Most of all, I am encouraged by what these findings point to outside the business world, and in particular in terms of community leadership. I am confident that there is a far greater proportion of synergistic leaders in the world than the 1% of managers found in this study. Why? Because part of the journey up the leadership ladder often involves leaving the corporate world and finding other work or purpose that aligns with one’s values, beliefs and calling. Synergistic knowing in the moment-to-moment flow prompts people to follow deeper impulses - in Tolle’s terms to want to add positivity to the world and avoid creating negativity. I suspect these leaders are all around us - maybe you are one of them? I’m curious what you might have to add synergistically to these thoughts - please share with us below!

Connecting Your Truths To Your Leadership

Brian Watts — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:44:12 +0000

Leadership, truth...sometimes, the mainstream media community surprises me... A few months ago, by wife and I got rid of our cable TV. Why? We were finding that there was seldom anything on that we felt was really worthwhile watching during the fairly limited opportunities we had to watch. (Sidebar: we haven't missed it at all!). In addition to reading more with the time we may have watched TV, we have started to watch more DVD movies. You might guess that we're not generally in for the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Instead, we usually head for the "road less travelled" at the video store. A couple of days ago, Fiona came home with a movie that we didn't recall hearing about called The Great Debaters, released on Christmas Day 2007. Because we haven't generally heard much about the movies that we rent, it's always sort of an adventure to watch them - sometimes you win, other times not so much. As we started to watch this movie though, my expectations were heightened from the very beginning when I discovered that Oprah Winfrey had co-produced it, and Denzel Washington both directed it and played the leading role (the professor). It didn't disappoint. Have a look at the trailer (2:30) to get a sense of what the movie's about.

Why am I telling you about this? Here's why:

media has such a tremendous power to inspire, uplift and motivate. This movie is a great example of that power amidst a sea of other fluff that doesn't. Sadly, you're not likely to hear about the great stuff as much as the fluff;
this movie has powerful messages about pursuing your dreams and believing in yourself and what's possible if you try;
the leading character is a person of strong conviction and an inspiring agent for social change. He sees the (potential) strength of character in others and gives them the space and opportunities to find their own strength...a great model for all of us in our leadership.

There is an moving dialogue between the professor and the team that becomes their mantra: Question: Who is the judge? Response: The judge is God. Question: Why is he God? Response: Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my opponent. Question: Who is your opponent? Response: He does not exist. Question: Why does he not exist? Response: Because he is a mere dissenting voice of the truth I speak! Wow! It makes me wonder how firmly as leaders we believe in the truths that we stand for in our own leadership? In a world of mediocrities and "whatever" thinking, what truths are we so committed to that we speak it and defend it without worrying about our opponents? Without concern for our naysayers? Granted it's a movie, AND, it is important to know that it is based on a true story. The passion that the team was able to speak from was firmly grounded in knowing their own truths and what mattered most to them about the way the world needed to change and what their part is making that change happen. What are your truths about how the world needs to change? What matters most to you? What are you prepared to be passionately outspoken about? How are you speaking your truths in the world? What do you need to do today to move it forward? Watch this movie and consider it from your own leadership in the world - it is a gem (I watched it a second time). And as always, please tell us your thoughts below :-) P.S. Click here (see Inspiration Video) for other recommended picks for high quality, inspirational movies.

Leading From The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun

Brian Watts — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:38:27 +0000

Leadership and being a part of a strong community should be fun… So often, people who have much to offer to their communities don’t. Why? Perhaps they feel they don’t have enough time. Perhaps they don’t know where to start. Perhaps they’re afraid to put themselves out there. Perhaps they just [...]

Pangea Day Brings Together The Global Community

Brian Watts — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:32:28 +0000

Pangea Day is an unprecedented event happening Saturday May 10, 2008 which will bring the global community together for four hours through the power of film. Films made for the world, by the world. The video below (2:30) is a powerful clip about the influence of images in our society and how they will be [...]

Community Injustices - Leading To Solutions

Brian Watts — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:46:13 +0000

Majora Carter is a fireball of energy, transforming her local community in the Bronx through her leadership around many social and environmental justice issues. Environmental justice as she defines it: “No community should be saddled with more environmental burdens and less environmental benefits than any other“. However, Majora also points out that race and class [...]

Pumping Water And Community Vitality

Brian Watts — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:24 +0000

I love it when you see an innovative solution that addresses several issues at the same time…here’s one great example - the PlayPump® Water System, which pumps water for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa using the boundless, playful energy of kids! For many of us, clean water is as simple to access as turning on a [...]

Relating The Environmental Crisis To Leading Community

Brian Watts — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:50:40 +0000

Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President, Nobel Peace Prize winner and spokesperson/narrator for An Inconvenient Truth…as a prominent leader, he has commanded the attention of the global community about the environmental crisis we all face. Never before has one single issue become the vested focus of the entire world. Al Gore is speaking out again [...]

Coming Out To Play In Community

Brian Watts — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:24:40 +0000

Don’t miss the video towards the bottom of this post! You’ve no doubt heard the expression “All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy“…? All too often these days, we see and hear of people getting stressed and burned out from over-scheduled and demanding lives. What if we could find a way to add [...]

Obstacles, Dreams and Legacies

Brian Watts — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:20:13 +0000

Bill Strickland’s story is truly stunning…about how he turned his dreams into amazing legacies despite starting out with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Makes you wonder whether the rest of us are dreaming too small doesn’t it…? “You must be prepared to act on your dreams, just in case they could come true.” ~ Bill Strickland Bill grew up in [...]

What Is That New Thing Next To “Connected In Community”?

Brian Watts — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:23:19 +0000

This morning, one of our members inquired about “that new thing” next to “Connected In Community” header at the top of the page. What’s it about? After explaining it to her, she suggested that I do a post to explain it to other members as well. What a great idea! So, here [...]

Now That I Have Seen, I Am Responsible

Brian Watts — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:30:35 +0000

Merriam-Webster defines “responsible” as “liable to be called on to answer”. The following video (3:39) from Brooke Fraser entitled Albertine contains a powerful message for all of us in the Western world…”now that I have seen, I am responsible“… How many times have you heard the expression “With privilege comes responsibility? “. How responsible are we in the [...]

Active Listening - Going Beyond The Words

Brian Watts — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:56:34 +0000

When was the last time your felt really heard by another person? What did they do to create this experience? Chances are that they were mainly just present with you. Active listening is a skill that few of us practice with any regularity. To actively listen is to remove your own agenda from the table and to [...]

Daring To Lead Naked

Brian Watts — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:32:51 +0000

The title of this video is “The Balls To Stand Naked” (by Nic Askew - a short one at 5:49), but don’t let the title put you off. The message here is one that authentic leaders who want to make a real impact in what they are doing in community need to live every [...]

Connecting Pirates, Students and Writing Communities

Brian Watts — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:11:14 +0000

If you are a student needing to purchase a new pirate hook protector while getting help from an expert on writing your first book, 826 Valencia in San Francisco is the place… Dave Egger’s story in this video (24:29) is truly inspiring! Although the video is a bit long, I really encourage you to make to [...]

Lights Out In Our Global Community

Brian Watts — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:41:01 +0000

Earth Hour - a simple grassroots idea that is quickly increasing awareness about power consumption and its impact on environmental degradation, while at the same time connecting communities together… Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, and in 2008 ( Saturday March 29, 8:00pm), this movement is going global. The following video provides an [...]