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into the mystic...	...i've been to the future. but i'm here. now.

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Posted by: alexmcmanus Original: 4/5/2005 11:04 AM Views: 4 Comments: 20 eProps: 26 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

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2 eProps from: tonytsheng flowerdust graffiti61 breathe_fire cliffbragg JamesPetticrew ocmartinez stinkowoman simplybridges jimrogers jvdworak vladimirovich NicolasNelson

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Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Welcome back.

Yesterday we began to talk about the 7 Transformations of Leadership. Today we continue that conversation. Feel free to chime in the comment box. I'll reply to you there as well.

The 7 Transformations of Leadership

part 1

Self awareness is a key to growing as a leader. I'm not referring here to simply knowing how we feel, but an awareness of how I effect those around me. I founded the ORIGINS International Mentoring Network on this premise: Leaders can grow. One of the early steps to growth as a leader is asking, where am I as a leader? What kind of leader am I? Again, the premise [and why this discussion really matters] is this: you can grow as a leader.

So, what kind of leader are you? The Harvard Business Review offers Seven Ways ("action logics") of Leading. Here they are.

The Seven Ways

The Opportunist
The Diplomat
The Expert
The Achiever
The Individualist
The Strategist
The Alchemist

Knowing which of these "ways" of leading or what this article calls "action logics" is one of the early steps in developing as a leader. According to the HBR, The least effective leaders in an organization are the Opportunist and Diplomat and the most effective are the Strategist and the Alchemist.

What do you think?

Confession time. I confess to experiencing somewhere between a mild to a very hot skepticism every time I read or take one of these assessments. However, I am convinced that attempting to examine the way my actions, the way even my presence effects others is a worthy endeavor. What do you think? My sense is that when a leader has harnessed her life with white hot passion for the kingdom of Christ, making herself a better more effective leader is an investment well worth making. An early step in developing as a leader is developing a self awareness of the kind of leader I am. Has anyone ever made this kind of investment (i.e. speaking into your life about how you impact others) in your life?

Tomorrow I'll summarize the characteristics to these seven ways, add my commentary, and explain why those of us on the Jesus way have a lot to teach the world about leadership.

into the mystic...

Alex McManus
Los Angeles, Ca
© 2005

Posted 4/5/2005 11:04 AM - 4 Views - 26 eProps - 20 comments

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20 Comments

Hi Alex,
I'm excited about this series you are starting.
When I was a younger, a few people commented to me about my lack of confidence in my own abilities, that I would sell my self short, an undercurrent of a lack of self confidence.
I still struggle with the same thing, ie - 'how could God choose to use me in this vast endeavor?' I think I've gotten better thru understanding how my background, gifts, abilities have been detailed out by God for His use. But I still struggle with it, with regard to leading my family, work and career situations, and ministry goals.
Lately, I've had tons of the opposite, lots of people speaking into my life about how God is using me in my specific role, how it seems like God made me specifically for this.

Posted 4/5/2005 12:57 PM by tonytsheng - reply

I'm also really excited about the next few days & the journey you will take us on. I have had people invest words of affirmation in my leadership, but seldom do I see the things they do. As one of only 3 women in full time staff leadership roles at our church (and 11 males) and also being the youngest one by a few years, I struggle with feeling inadequate. What most people say does encourage and build, but sometimes I wonder if they're simply playing "nice" as we people on church staff are "required" to do most of the time. I would rather they point out weaknesses as well, so I can develop in those areas.

Of your seven, without knowing the exact descriptions, I have a strong feeling I will probably play the tune of The Individualist (which is something of which I don't think I want to be.) I love equipping others and helping them grow in their gifts, but even with things delegated to staff members (or volunteers) ... Sometimes the ball gets dropped and I tend to cover for everybody who doesn't fulill what they say they'll accomplish - even if it isn't in my direct area of responsibility (communication). I'm learning (under the leadership of another staff leader who is also female and mentor) to let go, otherwise people will never learn or take responsibility. But I hate, with every fiber of my being, when something is not done because someone simply won't do it.

Ok...my rant is over. :) Looking forward to tomorrow.

Posted 4/5/2005 3:16 PM by flowerdust - reply

thats interesting...my first thought was that i was an individualist....then i read that strategist and alchemist were the most succesful and thought i must be one of those....i finally decided that a good leader would probably find out what those terms really meant before labeling himself.....of course you conviently decided not to post the definitions.....

Posted 4/5/2005 5:18 PM by graffiti61 - reply

Alex, I'm very impressed with your continual search for new ways to mentor this generation. Like many others, I'm riveted to your posts for challenge and encouragement to grow. Thank you for being one who must. - Steve Watson

Posted 4/5/2005 5:53 PM by breathe_fire - reply

Hey, I would really like your feedback on my discussion series.

Thanks!

cliff

P.S. Tell your friends.

Posted 4/5/2005 6:57 PM by cliffbragg - reply

Alex, This is kind of stuff is tough for a Scot, we like to be private, we don't like being honest about who we are and how that affects those around us. I have been taking some similar tests for my DrMin course and some of it is hard to face. One of the things the Lord is showing me is that, perhaps due to my time in the police, I have a tendancy to come across as unsympathetic and even intimidating. As I said, admitting this to myself hasn't been easy, because that's not how I see myself. Yet if I want to grow as a leader, I must face other people's perceptions of whom I am, and not just my own self-understanding. I am looking forward to reading what you have to say to help me in this painful process of self-examination.

James Petticrew

Posted 4/5/2005 7:47 PM by JamesPetticrew

- reply

Tony, Try making a slight adjustment from "how could God use me?" to "what kind of God could use me?" If your answer is "a great God" then it's no longer about you and me but about Him. Rememer whether we think too much of ourselves or too little, we are thinking of ourselves. The prescription for this is serving others without thought to ourselves. Perseverance in this kind of service concludes in a leadership that is characterized by an "absence of self". That is one working definition of courage: not the absence of fear, but the absence of self. When the self is absent then there is no more thought about overconfidence or insecurity. We act on our faith in Him. Hope that helps. Thanks for your honest and powerful contribution. By the way, I'm praying about creating a national mobilization experience for students. Interested in praying with me?

Posted 4/5/2005 9:26 PM by alexmcmanus - reply

flowerdust,

Sounds like you have what the Gallop Strengths Finder assessment calls the strength of "responsibility." Your mentor is right. Learn to let go and not grab it back once you let go. You sound a bit like my daughter, Erica, who definitely demonstrates leadership tendencies, but tends to overextend herself when it's not necessary. Lead on.

Posted 4/5/2005 9:32 PM by alexmcmanus - reply

graffiti61 and flowerdust predict themselves to be "individualists". i'm interested to see how much of the action logic can be intuited from just the name.

steve, thanks. i'm doing what i can to invest in what i believe will be some of the greatest leaders in the history of the Christ-following movement.

james, thanks for the honesty. when i met you in orlando i got an "i would follow you" feeling. [especially when you were screaming "freedom" like william wallace.] i'm betting lots of people will feel just like i did. keep diggin, though, for that self awareness...even when it hurts.

Posted 4/5/2005 9:39 PM by alexmcmanus - reply

alex,

your last two posts are just like slowly enjoying a fine meal, accompanied by the right wine and in the company of good friends. i am truly savoring this.
it's also a little scary, but please! ... bring out the next dish.

octavio

Posted 4/5/2005 10:22 PM by ocmartinez - reply

Alex, thanks for the thought provoking posts! I never thought of reading the Harvard Business Review for fun, but maybe that's all a part of the growth process, eh? As I think about my own action logic, I know that I definitely operate from a "power position." As a teacher and youth leader, I am constantly aware of who has power, whose power needs to be diminished and who needs to be empowered. I am beginning to learn the awesome responsibility that comes with every syllable that trickles from my lips...power to cut and power to heal. I am realizing that I need to better understand and grow my leadership gift (my second)in hopes that Christ can use me to empower the emerging generation. I am fascinated to hear about these 7 leadership descriptions. Post on! :) P.S. I hope you have recovered from your trip! That darn swiss water!

Posted 4/5/2005 10:46 PM by stinkowoman - reply

alex,

"Self awareness is a key to growing as a leader. I'm not referring here to simply knowing how we feel, but an awareness of how I effect those around me."

i really appreciate this statement. what i took away from it was that as leaders, we need to be 'self' aware and 'community' aware at the same time. we need to see ourselves not in isolation from our surroundings, but in the context of those surroundings. when we take the time to take a good look at ourselves, in context of the community we're in by considering those around us, we begin to experience what it means to live in the moment--to live in the now. Jesus' ministry was always in the moment; He was not only completely aware of his divinity, but also his humanity.

Posted 4/5/2005 10:50 PM by simplybridges - reply

Alex,
You have given me a great idea to think on - this idea of absence of self. I'm going to seriously chew on that for a while, it already makes sense to me.
I would love to pray with you about the idea of 'a national mobilization experience for students.' Totally.

Posted 4/5/2005 10:54 PM by tonytsheng - reply

Octavio,

You have a way with words, my friend. This will be a seven course meal followed by dessert and coffee. The flavor of the basic courses I offer is already being enhanced by the spices you and the others are contributing through your interaction. Keep it cooking. Keep it warm. Is it a red wine?

Posted 4/5/2005 11:23 PM by alexmcmanus - reply

Lori,

I can hear the "driver" in you through your writing. You're probably a terrific youth leader. Have you had a bit of the same response to your leadership that James describes in his post? And yes, that Swiss water. So clear. Who can trust it?

Posted 4/5/2005 11:28 PM by alexmcmanus - reply

Ginny,

I thought that line was particularly important too. "Know thyself" can be understood so introspectively or in so introverted a manner that we forget the value of our role in community, the value of our actions and words in relationship to others. Here I push for a "know thyself" with the assumption that we do not exist as islands, isolated from others, but as integrally interconnected social beings. Thanks for adding to the insight.

Posted 4/5/2005 11:33 PM by alexmcmanus - reply

Alex,

I have always be interested in the human dynamic of leadership and how people develop in this area. I've also been kind of stuck on the topic of the leadership of Saul. Which one of these "7" would he fit into?

I think he was set-up to fail. Annointed, perhaps, as a visual aid for the people so they could better understand their choice an earthly king to lead their nation over continuing the Kingship/Holy Nation relationship with God the heavenly King.

Saul was picked from relative obsecurity while out on his first leadership challenge of finding his fathers lost donkeys, and his most outstanding leadership quality at the time was that he was at least a "head" taller then other people. Was he "self-aware?"

As you develop your series on leadership, I would be interested in exploring with you this useful example, at least for me :), and to use this as a framework to better understand and apply what is discussed.

Look forward to hearing from you.
jim

Posted 4/6/2005 7:38 AM by jimrogers - reply

Alex - I am so excited that more of your mind is now easily accesible to the masses! Your work on leadership at Mosaic, and around the globe the last few years needs to be shared! What a great thing to be able to check in on what you are thinking and working through. Have you read Marcus Buckingham's new book, "The one thing you need to know about great managing, leading and sustained individual success?" It is a good book. Buckingham makes the argument leaders are born, not made - of which I agree - and that we typically are either leader or manager - but not both, although there are times where we are called to be both. Anyway - hope all is well! Joseph

Posted 4/6/2005 10:39 AM by jvdworak

- reply

I'd say I'm either the stratagest or the achiever. But I guess my question is, how are these 'logics' defined? Are they the motivations the leader has, or are they the results you see in the leader's actions? Maybe both?

Also, how do you think the correlation between stregths finder and these 7 is? I recieved (i don't remember the exact order) input, learner, focus, strategic, competitive in the finder. Would that mean that i'm more likely to be the stratagist, or would it not have a direct correlation?

Looking forward to your thoughts,
Yuri

Posted 4/6/2005 1:13 PM by vladimirovich - reply

What serendipity to discover your blog, Alex, and addressing things that are topmost in my life right now. How to grow as a leader? I'm new here, but I'm paying close attention now.

Posted 4/11/2005 5:14 PM by NicolasNelson

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