When news surfaced that our LCE LCC class would be beginning a blog on leadership I went where any normal college student goes for inspiration, the internet. However, this didn’t necessarily help narrow my thoughts on such a broad topic. In fact, it did quite the opposite. The third page I came across began with a heading stating that there are modestly 1,983,980 definitions on the topic of leadership on the internet alone. At this point I had hit some sort of a roadblock. But there’s more to the story.
After skimming the surface of the topic of leadership, both in and outside of the classroom, my perspective on leadership began to breach new dimensions and horizons. I began to learn more about the unique qualities which characterize each type of leadership as well as the means through which the individual discerns how he/she will lead. I learned that the individual, the community, and leadership each have a symbiotic relationship in which neither can exist without the other. This logic gave me a sort of hope, in addition to the widening perspective I had just began to attain. These key ideas and thoughts led me to the ideology discussed by Dr. James Farr.
Farr approaches leadership through an abstract dimension of perception. He argues that there is not necessarily a ‘correct leadership style’ rather that leadership styles and approaches vary and change according to the context of the situation at hand. This idea is described as ‘conscious leadership’ which blends an art and science of ascertaining how to decipher the context of a situation, further leading to the needs which need to be met in a given situation or scenario. This principle advocates acute self-awareness as well as an acute insight into the perspectives of others. “The conscious leader walks in the spiritual and physical domains concurrently, remaining simultaneously grounded and comfortable in both”. The key idea to be associated with Farr’s approach is balance. Balance in terms of Farr’s approach is to establish a means of thought that is conscious of oneself as well as the physical realms around him/her.
There are millions of theories, definitions and perceptions of leadership which have been developed throughout the past several hundred years. Nonetheless, theories will continue to be put forth. Definitions will continue to seek truth and understanding. And perceptions will continue to differ from one individual to the next. To reach consensus on such a subjective term as leadership is nearly impossible. However, just as I began discovering the topic of leadership and the broad spectrum of theories, definitions and perspectives it entails, it is vital to perceive this not as a roadblock or as any form of discouragement. The diversity of leadership is what makes it possible. The subjectivity is what empowers each of us to persevere, to continue to seek understanding of both ourselves and our communities, and most importantly to apply these theories within the realms of our daily lives.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:24 pm
I agree with your approach to understanding leadership. It is so ambiguous that there will probably never be a real definition for it since there are many forms of leadership and ways to execute it. What I find interesting is that even though there is no complete understanding of leadership, people continue to believe that their form of leadership is better than other people. This dogmatic way of thinking seems to bring about a lot of problems, so I wish that people took the time to research and understand how leadership is not one thing and that there are multiple forms of leadership. No one way is better than the other because nobody can fully understand leadership.
October 9th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
I was shocked at that number of “leadership” results (1,983,980)! Growing up I always feel as though society told me that “XYZ” need to be accomplished to be a leader; you need tough skin and willpower that doesn’t budge, etc. And if you didn’t possess those characteristics, then you couldn’t be a leader. This was discouraging to me.
As I found in this LLC class itself, and now again in your post, I am slowly unlearning everything from the past that constrained me and put me in a box. I’m discovering what my methods of leadership are, and how they can (and in some cases, can’t) work with other people. It’s a work in progress, but hey, at least I haven’t come to a dead halt. I know this will take a while to completely unveil an effective leadership style, but your post was encouraging =)