Why do we need a leadership space?

This week's Sunday ROAST newsletter draws on my Selfless Leader Portal's recent post, highlighting the real potential of Applied Leadership Challenge Spaces and Sets. Drawing on examples and resources within my LINKS360 leadership model (representing my Leadership Quomodo - the 'Modus Operandi' (MO) of Leadership) it seeks to answer the often elusive "How?" question of Leadership.

In my post, I briefly drew on my favourite Philosopher, Aristotle, in paraphrasing his view on Leadership as part of his approach to Phronesis. Phronesis is “a type of wisdom or intelligence relevant to practical action” instead of conceptual or theoretical stances). Phronesis implies both good judgment (wisdom) and excellence of character and habits (behaviours).

I ask the question:

Who can argue with this as an underpinning foundation for leadership?

Aristotle's Practical Wisdom in Supporting Pragmatic Leadership alongside Einsteins' Theory of Relativity

... a simple explanation!

Aristotle, in his various writings on leadership, can be paraphrased as follows:

TO DO the right things, in the right way, by and for the right people, in the right places and with the right impact’.”

The emphasis must always be on “To Do”, the application of leadership learning in practice. I discussed this in my Saturday Spotlight yesterday, using our recent example in working with our 30 senior leaders from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 'Not-for-Profit' sector.

Effective leadership practices involve the ability to apply different styles or approaches to achieve desired outcomes. This requires recognising the diverse contexts in which leadership is required, understanding the dynamics of each context, and selecting the appropriate mechanisms to address the situation at hand. By doing so, leaders can maximise their effectiveness and achieve their goals..

Intelligent Leadership is considered essential in dealing with the complexities of public-facing service delivery, particularly in an age of austerity. It holds promise as a mechanism to bridge the gap between vision and implementation, and between known and unknown challenges, based on the best available evidence. This applies whether the aim is to improve education for future generations, the safety of society, or the experience of individual members of the public, whether as a victim of crime, a patient or a student.

Intelligent leadership is seen as a solution to the leadership deficit (Syd?nmaanlakka, 2008 [1]), achieved through the combination of four intelligences:

The intelligence of the hand (the skill to do things), the intelligence of the head (the ability to reason things out), the intelligence of the heart (awareness of one’s feelings) and the intelligence of the soul (clarity over the values guiding all action).”(2008:4)

Intelligent leadership represents a shared and collaborative mechanism of leadership, and yet is this compatible with its notion as natural intelligence at the level of being? The answer must, of course, be yes, as behind every network and forming part of every relationship are individuals.

So, where does Einstein's theory of relativity fit in?

Einstein's theory of relativity, which consists of special and general relativity, primarily addresses the nature of space, time, and gravity (mass). While it may seem like a bridge too far to apply these concepts to leadership practice directly, some metaphorical insights are offered.

The Dilation and Expansion of Time and Perspective:

In special relativity, it is understood that time is relative and can pass differently for observers in different reference frames. This concept can be applied to leadership situations as well. Have you ever recovered from a challenging leadership situation and thought to yourself, "That went by so quickly", while another team member felt the opposite?

Just like in special relativity, leaders must understand that their team members may have different perspectives, experiences, and timelines for achieving goals. We all look at challenges through different lenses. Influential leaders recognize and respect these differences, fostering a culture of understanding and flexibility.

Space-Time Continuum and Interconnectedness:

The theory of general relativity unites space and time as a single fabric that is affected by gravity. Similarly, in leadership, the concept of an interconnected team is relevant, where the actions of each member affect the whole. The leadership challenge may often be attracted to the norm due to the degrees of freedom available, but leaders should be aware of the interconnected nature of their team and organisation. They should recognize that their decisions and actions have ripple effects, described as a precessional effect. For more information on the inspirational theories of Buckminster Fuller in the 1930s, who is considered the founding father of the science of synergetics, you can visit my portal, which can be accessed below.

Flexibility and Adaptability in the Context of the Masses:

Relativity refers to the lack of absolute and universal standards, such as moral relativity. This concept challenges our intuitive understanding of the world and emphasises the importance of adaptability. Leaders should also be flexible in navigating dynamic environments and leading their teams effectively. Embracing change and being open to new ideas can create opportunities out of chaos. Although some argue that chaos does not exist, only order, time, and circumstance dictate how long chaos prevails and when it transforms into order. The timeframe can range from a few weeks to several generations. Ultimately, relative thinking and action can change the course of time through adaptive and flexible innovations and disruption.

Gravity as a Force of Influence:

Gravity, in general relativity, is the curvature of space-time caused by mass. As mentioned earlier, precessional intervention and disruption of time lags can significantly influence all leaders. The intervention can be intentional or unintentional, skewing activities by knocking leadership intentions off course or bringing leaders closer to a shared understanding. This is where the Leadership Space exists, and leaders and their teams can share their ideas and potential solutions in a structured manner, applying their leadership learning to practice.

Leaders are influential figures who shape the workplace's "space-time." The weight of their decisions and actions can influence the team's trajectory and atmosphere, fast-tracking innovations and disruptions. Effective leaders understand the impact they have and use their influence responsibly. As Stephen Covey suggested, leaders can turn circles of concern into circles of influence by moving from reactive to proactive leadership responses. Coactive responses create even more significant opportunities by bringing more extensive communities into the Applied Leadership Challenge Space.

Finally, E=mc^2 and Energy in Leadership:

Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2, suggests a fundamental connection between energy and mass. In the context of leadership, this equation can be metaphorically applied to the energy leaders bring to their roles and the impact it has on the team. Positive and constructive energy from leaders can contribute significantly to the team's productivity and well-being. The more people are influenced, the greater the mass.

Although these parallels are metaphorical and not direct applications of the mathematical principles of relativity, they serve as reminders of essential leadership qualities such as perspective, adaptability, influence, and energy. As leadership is a dynamic and complex field, drawing inspiration from various disciplines, including physics, can offer unique insights and perspectives.

Creating and Supporting Applied Leadership Challenges Spaces, grounded in the principles of Action Learning, can turn the seemingly impossible into the practical possible. We must create the time, the space and the energy to make this happen.

REFERENCE

[1] Syd?nmaanlakka P. Intelligent Leadership And Creativity: Supporting Creativity Through Intelligent Leadership.? Creativity And Innovation Management Integrating Inquiry And Action; Buffalo, New York2008.