>I agree with much of what you are saying, Fred. And that is why I try to
>use a more experiential approach where possible when addressing the issue
>of leadership. Perhaps it is a question not of "teaching" leadership, but
>of creating situations within which people can learn about the impact of
>their actions on others and themselves.
Well put Tobin. I have discussed with leadership workshop participants
the issue of "impact awareness" and like you find this process much more
valuable than trying to "teach" leadership. I often refer to the
Parent-Teacher (P-T) leadership example that the majority are exposed to
for a long period of time before taking on a leading role themselves.
I find the focus and resultant emphasis of the P-T style is quite rightly
"personal" (about the individual). This attention to personal often
results in a significantly reduced emphasis on the all important "work",
the very basis and rational of work environment relationships. When times
are tough or when performance is down the focus tends to become very
personal, at least on oneside ie: either the leader, the worker or both.
This results in a lot of energy being expended on the
individual-relationship and a much deminished focus on the work.
Situations I have been involved in and others I have been told about,
validate the P-T impact as personal.
Knowing this, the workshop participants begin to discuss and review
previous or existing situations learning about the impact of their
participation in those events and subsequently learn how to change their
behavior and enhance their leadership skill/impact.
-- Jim Campbell e-mail: CAMPBELL@upanet.uleth.ca 190 Oxford Rd. West Public Access Internet - via University of Lethbridge Net Lethbridge, Alberta Phone & Fax: (403) 381 3774 Canada T1K 4V4 Jim - ENTP Catherine - ENFJ"Life-learning: creating new forms, and in turn not diminishing possibilities"
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>