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That Something Else Better

Mar 29, 2012
By Stephen Downes

Posted to Half an Hour

I saw this thing from John T. Spencer consisting of the first two columns below, 'Management' and 'Leadership' respectively, and while I get that 'Leadership' is supposed to be something better and to be aspired to, it left me short. So I think there's a need to characterize another attitude, one that is neither 'Management' or 'Leadership', which gets to the core of a more ideal state.

	Management	Leadership	That something else better that isn't management or leadership
Attitude	Compliance	Humility	Service
Authority	Based upon title	Based upon earned trust	None; offers an example which may be followed or not
Questions	Questions are viewed as a threat to authority	Encourages questions to develop an ethical understanding	Asked frequently
The Framework	Procedural	Relational	Engaged and connected
Rules / Boundaries	Based upon conformity	Based upon an ethical, philosophical concept	Based on respect for others
Procedures	Standardized	Personalized	Adapted as needed
Innovation	Discouraged if it challenges the status quo	Provides a vision that inspires others	Secondary to creativity, freedom and exploration
Submission	Forced: based upon a fear	Voluntarily: submitting to another's strengths to protect one's weaknesses	There is no submission; exchanges are mutual and of mutual value
Motivation	Extrinsic	Intrinsic	Not necessary
The Results	Behave externally but rebel internally (or when no one is looking)	Empathetic, ethical thinkers who want to do what is right	Cooperative environment populated by creative and expressive individuals who see respect for and service to others as the highest good