A521.9.4.RB_Reflections on Leadership_Wathen_Sandra

A521.9.4.RB_Reflections on Leadership_Wathen_Sandra

Ref:  Chapter 12, "A Different Kind of Leader." Leadership is a trait - a skill - and it also has a style.

However, leadership also has dimensions; mostly interactive in nature.  They have a style in which they will tend to work with the world rather than to oppose it.  It is about reading the world and letting the world do some of the work – taking a strategic approach.  So what does that mean?   It means rather than forcing others through methods of control to obtain compliance, a leader would find alternative strategies by focusing energy somewhere more positive; while creating a stronger adversarial position.    This method of style is independent of being in a hierarchical position of power. 

An interactive style of leadership can both add and subtract elements from the leadership roles in that it supplements traditional management functions and also is subtractive in that it removes techniques of winning and manipulation irrelevant of costs.  Leaders cannot exercise both and earn respect by others.

Personal integrity and authenticity are foundations in which interactive leadership builds upon.  It is what you represent and who you are by how you communicate yourself to others.   It is how you see the world as it is and as a result; ideas are sound.  It is also about speaking the truth; you are believed.   People trust you because of how you treat them.  Making your values explicit and practice those values so that your values are instilled in others.  It is also about making two-way communication based on a reciprocal exchange from your listening.  This includes fostering an innovative environment that leads to ideas.  As a result, it will bring meaning to those who work; leading to innovation.

Interactive Leadership doesn’t depend on the possession of hierarchical authority because it allows for open communication; both horizontally and vertically within the organization.  Basically, it provides a method by which people in the organization can be part of helping to clarify direction or improvements, as well as other areas that can provide improved performance while assisting leadership to foster continuous improvements.

There are many benefits that interactive leadership provides in theory as it provides for an understanding of how different story patterns can be used to accomplish things.  It means not just talking about a story by improving how you tell the stories. Competence in narrative is not always the most important thing when telling a story as it can become too detailed.  Instead, emotional intelligence can be used sometimes to achieve the objectives for practical outcomes.

In essence, it means that the interactive style of leadership provides for a new mind-set in how a leader sees the world.   It is when the leader is in an active participating role rather than the traditional remote observer.  With this style, leaders are more connected with the world as they have developed an interactive way of thinking and their behavior is parallel with their thinking.

The interactive leader is also able to connect with the audience as well as learn from the audience; two-way communication.  They also are good storytellers; both presenters and face-to-face.  It is also the ability to have symmetrical relationship with communication.  In today’s world, interactive approach to leadership is essential for implementing change and building a culture for adapting to the future.  

I consider myself a modern style leader; interactive in style and approach.  I am very open-minded and encourage innovation throughout the organization.  What I have learned from reading Denning (Chapter 12) is that I have been missing some key concepts and perspective on the necessary way of thinking that I can improve upon to be an more effective leader; especially an interactive leader in which I aspire. 

I prefer to not be in a communist style type leadership role in which I am dictating and controlling the workforce; nor do I want to be treated in that manner.  For me, I want to encourage and instill open communication and innovation in my workplace and vice versa.

I believe in the attributes that interactive leadership instills such as integrity and authenticity.   I also believe in the values of speaking the truth as that is also a personal value of mine in addition to a professional value.  Trust is also another important value I believe in and is a foundation for ensuring for integrity and authenticity in the workplace.