My style of leadership LO9023

William J. Hobler, Jr (bhobler@worldnet.att.net)
Sun, 11 Aug 1996 16:54:24 -0400

Replying to LO8977 --

Hal Popplewell raised doubts about the posting of a set of leadership
principles with

>Well . . . I'm not sure this is ALL good. Indeed, I find a lot that is
> a. Disingenuous, and,
> b. Abrogative in it.

I had a mixed view of the 'leadership principles posted. First I see it
as a practical step a new leader can take with his or her new
organization. It seemed a step in the direction of placing the leader's
thoughts about the atmosphere which (s)he wished to establish for the
group. While Hal saw a lack of goals or missions as a shortcoming, I
think that the phrasing is too hierarchial and command and control.

In reading and rereading the original post I asked myself, If I were to
accept a new leadership position what kind of opening to a dialog with my
people would I publish. I decided that it should emphasize collaboration,
control of destiny by the individual. It should be short and should be
encapsulated by several short statements that could guide our behavior.

I would see this as an opening to a dialog with people and as a beginning
of a learning process we could all engage ourselves in.

I post this for comment and for use if you wish.

=================================
A covenant to collaborate.

We believe that all of us, and each of us, can achieve our personal and
corporate goals and missions most easily by collaborating with each other.
Collaboration in these endeavors is dependent upon our mutual trust, an
attribute that is built and maintained through our constant attention to
our relationship with each other. The collaboration we wish is not
contractual in nature, rather it is more like a covenant we form within
our community. To make this concept more tangible the following thoughts
and beliefs form a basis of a continuing dialog among us.

A. Our underlying assumptions are:
1. When we consider the community engaged in our attaining our goals
and mission we include our families, co-workers, clients, business
partners and suppliers.
2. This community's combined intelligence and experiences vastly
exceed any individual's.
3. Each of us have experience and knowledge that exceeds any one of
ours in at least one area. We can all learn from each other.
4. It takes time to earn each other's trust.
5. Neither our personality nor our intellect belongs to this community
they are ours. However, we all have made a pact to apply the best of both
to the community's goals.
6. In the tension of conflict, disputes or disagreements we find the
opportunity for and impulse to seek creative solutions. While we do not
seek conflict, we seek to jointly learn from it.
7. Our daily efforts reflect how we perceive mutual concern for our
needs and welfare.
8. Good or bad morale, does not well up from below or descend from
above, it is a product of our attitudes. We can decide to be up or down.

B. With the above in mind, we collaborate best when we:
1. Help each other grow professionally and personally.
2. Take time to discuss any work related or family personal problems
with each other, respecting each other and the sensitivity of the
information shared.
3. Resolve disputes, the very moment they occur.
4. Make our work easier for each other.
5. Seek out our strengths and when asked for help, seek to strengthen
our weaknesses.

C. In addition, we believe that we are best when we:
1. Work together to attain goals, we do not work for each other.
2. Seldom exclude anyone from our community - it is our duty to
ensure that this is not necessary.
3. Including everyone's thoughts and feelings when making tough
business decisions.
4. Encourage creativity and idea forming periods. We are free to
dream a little.
5. Base decisions on the highest of personal ethics and most closely
held values.
6. Never scold anyone - we examine both our success and failures. We
carry the lessons from the pain of failure and the joy of success into all
our relationships - we strive to learn from both.
7. Encourage the unorthodox, imaginative and innovative, we think out
of the box.
8. Seek to understand differences - do not hesitate to disagree, to
inquire and to advocate.
9. Give credit and criticize where due, accepting the first modestly
and the second without rancor.
10. Recognize that authority may be delegated but, responsibility
remains with one person.
11. Continually strive to raise our values and practice them. We are
examples for each other.

D. Our behavior is informed by the following precepts:
1. We are all in this together. Our goal is to collaborate in our
growth.
2. We make decisions based on a, "What is best for this community?"
philosophy.
3. We find workable solutions for problems, the very moment they
become problems.
4. We implement solutions to problems for which we have authority,
and actively cooperate in implementing other's solutions.
5. We inform each other of actions we think we should know about.
6. If you must, ask me to choose between alternative solutions for
you, then accept that I will not choose in cases where you have the
authority to choose yourself.
7. We select our goals, set our priorities and plan our time and
allow each other the same control.
8. If I can help you reach a goal, let us together make it so.
9. We find a way to have fun while working.

A covenant

With this background our intent is stated as a covenant we make with
everyone in our community whether or not they are privy to this dialog.
That intent is:

To be fair - each of us is then a winner.
To be inclusive, all of us are able to contribute.
To value each other's person, integrity, beliefs, opinions and right to be.
To help each other attain our common and personal goals.
To help each other enjoy the richness of life.

These intents form our covenant with each other. Our
expectation is that each of us strives to guide our behavior by
them.

Because we believe these intents and the obligation they imply,
we will practice them among all those whom we meet.

We expect these precepts and this covenant to be refined as we
grow as a community and individually. Refinement of our
intent emerges only from honest dialog. When we do not
understand them or we sense that we are not practicing them,
have a problem with, a question about, or we believe we can
improve on them, let us enter into dialog.

============================
If you find this useful and change it to serve you better please share
your changes with me so that I too may benefit from you thoughts.

-- 

A leader is best when people barely know he exists. Of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, "We did this ourselves." "The Way" The Tao

Bill Hobler bhobler@worldnet.att.net

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>