Hoo-ray for a great set of propositions on leadership! A few comments:
>* I don't assume that leaders automatically translate or act as
patriarchs.
Especially if they are un-selfconscious about their leadership, or if they
don't know they're acting as leaders. The best leadership I've seen in
organizations is people just taking initiative and instilling enthusiasm.
>* I assume it is possible to follow a leader without
> giving up personal responsibility or giving control
> to the leader.
In Army officer training I was taught that the only dangerous soldier is
one who follows without knowing, or worse, caring, why. A good sign of
the quality of followers is their tendency to ask questions about the
mission; it's a way of personalizing it and taking ownership.
>* I assume that many of the important lessons we learn
> occur when we follow leaders.
Good point. I'd also suggest that many of the important lessons we learn
occur when we take up the gauntlet. This reminds me of the Three Stooges
Theory of History: "All people sooner or later will make absolute fools
of themselves, and in that moment something of the truth will be
revealed."
>* I assume that all human beings have tendencies to follow
> and lead and that attempts to be completely independent
> of either drive are futile. I believe we are biological
> connected in hierarchies and networks that are too
> complex to understand with absolutes or either ors.
>
>* Finally, I believe that leadership is an essential
> ingrediant for organizational change. Pete, you pose
> the question if anyone can or should be a leader.
> I think people are leaders whether they know they can
> or should be leaders.
>Finally, I am not sure if leadership can be taught, but I am pretty sure
>that it teaches us. I would like to hear other points of view.
Leadership can be learned. Anyone can do it, though not in the same ways
and in the same settings. If it doesn't teach us, we become quickly
obsolete.
-- David E. Birren Phone: (608)267-2442 Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Fax: (608)267-3579 Bureau of Management & Budget Internet: birred@dnr.state.wi.us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "To know, and not to act, is to not know." --Wang Yang Ming, 9th-century Chinese general