LS 4: Leadership in Transition

Until recently, perhaps the last two or three decades, the basis of human organization has been hierarchical in nature. Accordingly the concept of leadership has also been hierarchical. Someone "exercises leadership," others follow and the pyramidal unit of one person leading many becomes enshrined in organisational structure. Many people gain their sense of identity from their position in the hierarchy(ies) they belong to. Throughout history this concept of leadership was significantly reinforced by the practical realities of managing resources and information, the accumulation, flow, application and storage of which also happened hierarchically.

With the burgeoning of electronic information technology over the last two decades, and the development of the Internet over an even lesser time period, the accumulation, flow, application and storage of information (and money) now happens primarily in a networked fashion. Information is more readily available to people in an organization through its electronically networked systems than through its people systems.

Three huge changes are becoming evident in society. One, dysfunction in "old" ways of thinking, doing and being is appearing frequently. Two, organizations - like information technology - are becoming increasingly net-worked and less hierarchical. Three, many people are becoming increasingly aware of their spiritual (not religious) energy space. As society changes, so does the concept of leadership.

This training examines the changing nature of leadership as a function in organizations. It makes a distinction between leadership as a functioning concept and the leader as a functioning person. This training is valuable for those who are seen, or want to be seen, as "enlightened" leaders.

Download the course description [PDF approx. 55 KB]
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