I have spent the last several years, probably since the completion of my
Master's Degree, searching for a leadership framework/theory that matched
my style. Seminars, workshops and books on traditional management theory
had useful pieces, but this was not me, in many ways. I looked to church
leadership/Christian models, some nice stuff, no hits. I looked at
education models, snippets, no meat. "Quality Without Tears", Crosby? had
some great stuff, and I struggled to apply it to the work I do, with both
clients and co- workers. Then, a couple of months ago, I was browsing
through the discount bin at the bookstore and I found a book that looked
promising. I have lent it out to staff and can not recall the title. It
is a collection of "articles" regarding changing paradigms in business.
There is an extraction of the Fifth Discipline contained.
I felt that at last there was an emerging model that I could relate to in
a meaningful way. I came to see an important piece that was missing for
my staff. We lack a common direction generated by the whole. People have
a lot of freedom to exercise their power without "being on the same page"
(as our Kitchen Manager put it). When I shared my discoveries and self
realizations with the staff at the next staff meeting, my boss stated that
he had the Fifth Discipline and that LSS was working with a consultant
along these lines. It is exciting to find something that feels like it
fits AND find that it is in line with where the larger organization is
going.
I recently attended the "Finding Better Ways, Working With High Risk Youth
and Families" conference in Cambridge, Mass that offered a workshop
entitled, "Moving Toward a Learning Organization: A Practice Workshop",
presented by Malcolm C Burson. My objective was not only to learn, but to
check Malcolm out as a potential consultant. I was pleased with the
workshop and am in the process of setting up a retreat for all staff with
him. He recommended this mail list to me. Thank you so much Malcolm!
For the last several weeks I have read with interest the many articles you
all have provided. I am motivated to join in on some of the dialogue,
though I feel like I'm stepping off the porch to run with the big dogs!
Thus the lengthy intro. I am aware from previous Board/committee work
with executive business folks that I have a different perspective. It is
my hope that this intro will help bridge the differences that will
surface.
When I read the previously mentioned book, I was not sure I believed that
business would actually take the directions mapped out. In reading what
you all are doing I am encouraged that the prevailing work environment we
have all come to know and hate may indeed have a new shape in days,
(years?), to come.
Sherry Gould
s_gould@conknet.com
--s_gould@conknet.com (Sherry L. Gould)
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>