Comments for geoffreywebb.com http://geoffreywebb.com Leading on Purpose Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on 3 Modern Leadership Myths by David Green http://geoffreywebb.com/2011/11/17/3-modern-leadership-myths/#comment-1478 David Green Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:22:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/?p=2113#comment-1478 Geoffrey, The biggest myth about leadership is that it is conceptualised in isolation from the  group for which it occurs! 'Leadership', if it exists as a phenomenon at all, is about the group's mission: and it varies from group to group.  It extends from basic management concerns such as supplying resources, equipping people and supporting them in their 'sensing' of the environment, to 'meta-group' concerns such as handling crises (refer to Heifitz's work on adaptive leadership), identifying or activating towards a direction (e.g. as dictated by market, stakeholders, circumstances, or the mission environment). Too much of 'leadership' talk seems to be cast in the comic book mould of the isolated hero having all the ideas, all the knowledge and all the gumption herding reluctant and barely capable people to the task they are avoiding. Oddly, this is hardly democratic and really, I think, contrary to the ideals of America's foundation that it is a commonwealth of free and self-determining individuals who have come together willingly for a purpose. As soon as 'leadership' evaporates and we see the mission as the object of a 'community of intent' to which all contribute and in which all collaborate, we will, I think, be better off in business, and in building community capital. Geoffrey,
The biggest myth about leadership is that it is conceptualised in isolation from the  group for which it occurs!
‘Leadership’, if it exists as a phenomenon at all, is about the group’s mission: and it varies from group to group.  It extends from basic management concerns such as supplying resources, equipping people and supporting them in their ‘sensing’ of the environment, to ‘meta-group’ concerns such as handling crises (refer to Heifitz’s work on adaptive leadership), identifying or activating towards a direction (e.g. as dictated by market, stakeholders, circumstances, or the mission environment).
Too much of ‘leadership’ talk seems to be cast in the comic book mould of the isolated hero having all the ideas, all the knowledge and all the gumption herding reluctant and barely capable people to the task they are avoiding.
Oddly, this is hardly democratic and really, I think, contrary to the ideals of America’s foundation that it is a commonwealth of free and self-determining individuals who have come together willingly for a purpose.
As soon as ‘leadership’ evaporates and we see the mission as the object of a ‘community of intent’ to which all contribute and in which all collaborate, we will, I think, be better off in business, and in building community capital.

]]> Comment on The 3 Levels of Public Speaking by Leadership Thought #342 – Don’t Lose Your Personal Censor Button « Ed Robinson's Blog http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/03/20/the-3-levels-of-public-speaking/#comment-1477 Leadership Thought #342 – Don’t Lose Your Personal Censor Button « Ed Robinson's Blog Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:27:04 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/?p=2162#comment-1477 [...] The 3 Levels of Public Speaking (geoffreywebb.com) [...] [...] The 3 Levels of Public Speaking (geoffreywebb.com) [...]

]]> Comment on 5 Things Your Followers Need From You…but may not want! by Geoff Webb http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/04/19/7-things-your-followers-need-but-may-not-want-from-you/#comment-1476 Geoff Webb Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:02:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.com/?p=2724#comment-1476 Thanks for catching that, Kevin! It started out as 7, but 2 get edited out. I'm glad they did, because your additions are superb—thanks! Thanks for catching that, Kevin! It started out as 7, but 2 get edited out.

I’m glad they did, because your additions are superb—thanks!

]]> Comment on 5 Things Your Followers Need From You…but may not want! by Kevin Pashuk http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/04/19/7-things-your-followers-need-but-may-not-want-from-you/#comment-1475 Kevin Pashuk Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:48:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.com/?p=2724#comment-1475 Um... the title says 7 things... I count 5 in the article... so I'll add 2 other things your team may not want. Stretching.  Practically all of your team has a bit more in them than they think they have.  This might be capacity, ability, strengths... it's the role of the leader to draw this out. No hiding places.  A great team shares the gain, but it also shares the pain.  While the leader may "take the bullets for the team" there should be no excusing anyone from responsibility for coming up with a solution to restore the situation.  An individual may have caused an issue that affects the team's performance, but it is the team that will collectively restore the reputation of the team. Um… the title says 7 things… I count 5 in the article… so I’ll add 2 other things your team may not want.

Stretching.  Practically all of your team has a bit more in them than they think they have.  This might be capacity, ability, strengths… it’s the role of the leader to draw this out.

No hiding places.  A great team shares the gain, but it also shares the pain.  While the leader may “take the bullets for the team” there should be no excusing anyone from responsibility for coming up with a solution to restore the situation.  An individual may have caused an issue that affects the team’s performance, but it is the team that will collectively restore the reputation of the team.

]]> Comment on The Secret to Sustainable Success by Geoff Webb http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/04/05/the-secret-to-sustainable-success/#comment-1474 Geoff Webb Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:15:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.com/?p=2709#comment-1474 Love that—thanks Liz! Love that—thanks Liz!

]]> Comment on The Secret to Sustainable Success by lizkupcha http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/04/05/the-secret-to-sustainable-success/#comment-1473 lizkupcha Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:08:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.com/?p=2709#comment-1473 The first boss I had after college used to tell us to use Friday as a springboard for the following week. Set appointments, make calls, etc. to generate activity for Monday and beyond. The first boss I had after college used to tell us to use Friday as a springboard for the following week. Set appointments, make calls, etc. to generate activity for Monday and beyond.

]]> Comment on The Secret to Sustainable Success by Geoff Webb http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/04/05/the-secret-to-sustainable-success/#comment-1472 Geoff Webb Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:27:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.com/?p=2709#comment-1472 Good to know, Don—thanks! Good to know, Don—thanks!

]]> Comment on The Secret to Sustainable Success by Don Bume http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/04/05/the-secret-to-sustainable-success/#comment-1471 Don Bume Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:07:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.com/?p=2709#comment-1471 All good except #9.  Washing your clothes inside-out makes them last longer. All good except #9.  Washing your clothes inside-out makes them last longer.

]]> Comment on The 3 Levels of Public Speaking by Norah Ringma http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/03/20/the-3-levels-of-public-speaking/#comment-1365 Norah Ringma Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:37:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/?p=2162#comment-1365 Thank you, Geoff.  I will! Thank you, Geoff.  I will!

]]> Comment on The 3 Levels of Public Speaking by Geoff Webb http://geoffreywebb.com/2012/03/20/the-3-levels-of-public-speaking/#comment-1364 Geoff Webb Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:53:00 +0000 http://geoffreywebb.wordpress.com/?p=2162#comment-1364 haha!...touché my friend. I'm just hoping he was the exception! haha!…touché my friend. I’m just hoping he was the exception!

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