Exclusive Leadership vs. Integral Leadership

In the past I have characterized the taken-for-granted definitions of leadership as follows:

1. leadership requires a certain position (e.g., CEO, president, mayor, manager, etc.)
2. leadership requires certain physical or personality traits, qualities, character and competencies
3. leadership requires followers

Note how exclusive these definitions are. From the start, they rule out nearly everyone from being a leader. Also note that form the perspective of these definitions, becoming a leader is a long road to march. You have to prove yourself to rise through the ranks, you have to develop the traits, qualities, and competencies if you don't have them, and you have to build your following. So you have to already be a leader before you can become a leader. This is how most people I know think about leadership - as exclusive.

Of course our culture also reinforces this exclusivity. We have special perks for leaders - exclusive clubs, private jets, limousines, fancy condos with postcard perfect views, and skyrocketing salaries.

And yet, to face the tough realities, we need many leaders - millions and millions of leaders.

I'd like to suggest that leading is something that anyone can do.  I'm not saying that everyone is leading but that everyone has the possibility of leading.

My inclusive definition of leadership, which forms the foundation of what I call Integral Leadership, is as follows:

1. leading is an authentic stance in the world
2. leading is a responsive way of being
3. leading is an offer of service to others
4. leading is marshaling resources (across all quadrants, levels, lines, states, and types) to face tough realities that call for development and evolution

(I have written posts on some of these and you can follow the links to find out more.)

Note that Integral Leadership is defined by a set of practices not descriptions. With these practices, you can generate Integral Leadership. And fulfilling any or all of the exclusive definitions of leadership is no guarantee that you can or are truly leading in an integral way as I define it here.

My aim here is to put forth a definition of leadership that anyone can use to make a significant difference in their own and other people's lives by leading. Becoming an Integral Leader is not a long road to march. I'm not saying that you already know how to do masterfully. I am saying that there is nothing keeping you from starting to practice Integral Leadership right now - in your current position, with your current traits, qualities, and competencies, and within your current communities, be they followers or not.

With practice comes mastery. No doubt you will find that these practices are challenging. They will take you to your learning edge over and over again. As a leader, you are never done learning. There will always be tough realities to face. This is the path of a leader. Walking this path is its own reward. This path leads to a deeper sense of yourself, of your calling, of your place and purpose, of more complete self-expression, meaning, and belonging.

Take this moment to declare your leadership, start practicing, and start walking the path.

Take care,

-Steve

Comments

[Ken Homer]

Hi Steve,

As I am involved with the design and delivery of a course on Evolutionary Leadership, I googled "what is leadership" and then picked a few definitions that I thought would outline the concept for our audience. Below are six definitions with the source URLs attached. While none is completely aligned with your depiction of Integral Leadership, I think the last two in particular are pointing toward it.

Influencing and directing the performance of group members towards the achievement of organizational goals.
www.booksites.net/download/chadwickbeech/Glossary.htm

In the Greek is actually ”one who provides leadership in giving aid". These go first and lead by example, so that others are motivated to follow.
www.acts17-11.com/dictionary_gifts.html

Is ‘the lifting of people’s vision to a higher sight, the raising of their performance to a higher standard, the building of their personality beyond its normal limitations’ (Drucker, 1985).
http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/213/218150/glossary.html

The ability to influence group members so as to help achieve the goals of the group.
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007256296x/student_view0/glossary.html

Leadership is shifting from position to knowledge.
www.leadersdirect.com

Leadership is an interactive conversation that pulls people toward becoming comfortable with the language of personal responsibility and commitment.
www.coachthree.com

[Steve]

Ken,

Thanks for adding this. I found these definitions of leadership interesting. In a way, they each point to something important about leadership.

The funny thing - to me anyway - about these definitions and many others that I see is that they describe something about leadership but don't really offer anything that would help you be a leader and take leadership actions.

In a sense, this is one of the aims of my articulation of integral leadership ... that the articulation distinguishes leadership in a way that helps you generate leadership. That being said, I'm not sure if I'm succeeding in this.

The idea is that authenticity, responsiveness, offers, and marshalling resources (or as I know prefer to say developing and mobilizing capacities) are all practices that generate a leading way of being. Each is a kind of call to action - leadership action. For sure there is much more to leadership than just these four practices.

Thanks again for adding your voice (and other voices) to this conversation.

Take care,

-Steve