July 5th, 2010
“Leadership, simply put, raises our consciousness, because we cannot solve the problems and challenges we face with the same thinking that caused them. Leadership is not the propagation of our own ideas, constructs and theories, however worthy they might be. It is the raising of consciousness- in body, mind and spirit- in self, culture and society.
Leadership involves the ability to see beyond the tip of our own nose; see beyond the apparent; beyond our own thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Leading involves awareness of who is running the show; it is a continuous inquiry into the status quo or myths of the given that all of us are prone to follow blindly due to our need for belonging. Leading is to raise consciousness, how we do that is mere commentary. Ask yourself; how many leaders fit this profile, versus simply pushing the execution of their own agenda? The latter does not amount to leadership; it is called politics.”
-Cristoph Schaub
Be good to each other.
This is an interesting post. While I agree that one aspect of good leadership is to raise consciousness, I disagree with the rather dismissive view about establishing commitment and effort toward something of value. In that sense, I believe that leadership is authenicity and self-awareness on the part of the leader, identification of opportunities that promote the social good, and articulation of those opportunities in ways that certainly raise consciousness but with the goal of achieving a greater social good.
We work with leadership (and provide programs for improving leadership) all of the time. Raising awareness in others in only one small part of being effective, but even this is in service of a purpose.