A633.9.3.RB -
Polyarchy Reflections
Most leadership
models have the assumption of oligarchy – leadership is done by a few leaders
over many followers. If Polyarchy is fast replacing the old oligarchy
assumptions does this make these old leadership models redundant?
Reflecting on traditional leadership from the perspective of complex adaptive
leadership, address the implications and how they will affect you as a leader
in the future.
Polyarchy is fast replacing the old oligarchy leadership
style but I don’t think that makes oligarchy completely obsolete. I’m not quite
sure how to say this but I’m going to try to make sense: Oligarchy is
essentially like the parent of Polyarchy. Polyarchy is born out of a need for
change in how organizations are being run because the times have changed. It’s a
different world than that which birthed oligarchy and while it is archaic, and
maybe a little grumpy after 7pm, it is still important to never lose sight of
it because of its relationship to Polyarchy. There is a natural evolution and one
day, Polyarchy will be an outdated idea and something new and more meaningful
will be born of it. So, while you and I are made up of the DNA of generations
of our family members, so it is with Polyarchy and Oligarchy.
The implications of this to me as a future leader are simple.
Look forward, seek out positive changes, but never forget where you’ve come
from and how much you’ve grown. I believe that Polyarchy is the next natural
evolution within the complex adaptive strategy and there will be another
evolution that will be an improvement on Polyarchy because the adaptive
strategies and methods will lead us there.
My personal leadership development needs over the next 3
years will desperately require coaching. While we were doing our coaching
sessions in Team B, I realized that I honestly have no idea what I want or
where I want to go…speaking specifically of my career. I’ve always just kind of
landed somewhere and made a go of it. Taking this job in South Carolina was the
first time I actively made a career decision that forced me completely out of
my comfort zone and into a place where my network is 3200 miles away. I did it
because in my gut I knew that the glass ceiling was lower than I wanted to
believe in my old organization. I also wanted to pursue this Master’s program
because I knew that leadership skills would be very important to make any
changes I might have the opportunity to make. But the specifics? Nothing. I
need a coach who can ask me the non-suggestive questions to help guide me to
what I really want to do. Starting with the coaching, I would also like to
study more about Taoism and Chaos theory. The impact this will have on my
future strategy will be to actually develop a future strategy. I'm sorry this isn't more technical; I learned a lot about complex adaptive strategy but honestly, I have more questions than answers at this point. However, I don't think that's a bad thing. Right?
Thank you Kees for your wonderful feedback this term. I've never had a professor who took the time to have a conversation with me (albeit virtual...still meaningful) like that. I hope to work with you again in the future and maybe by then I'll have more answers about my future leadership development. I really hope I have some great stories for you by then! Take care, Happy Holidays, and I hope 2017 is awesome for you!
References:
Obolensky, N. (2015). Complex Adaptive Leadership. Farnham,
Surrey, England: Gower Publishing Limited.
No comments:
Post a Comment