In ancient times the totem pole was a symbolic expression of past generations. It provided information about a tribe’s identity–a type of linear -understanding of generations that came just before them and the leaders who showed them the way. yoursite.com enforced group solidarity and provided a important relational context to their lives.
The totem pole was worshiped and ritualized. The history of a complete tribe could be understood by this a single linear expression. Symbolic communication, as a group organizing process, is also found in law firms. Law firms proudly list their partners’ names on letterhead and post them on doorways. Frequently some of the names are symbols of the previous–a lasting recognition of these who came ahead of as properly as these who are presently carrying the torch of the firm’s traditions into the future. This symbolic communication portrays the history of a firm’s leader-ship and is an indicator of predicted performance. But what happens when the firm’s previous is forced to yield to the firm’s future? When it becomes important for the firm to reinvent itself and set out new organizing principles that match its vision–when the old belief program is no longer in sync with the desires and demands of changing markets and customers? Most firms are facing this challenge right now, and some are not even conscious of it. The partners I spoke with clearly recognized the have to have to re-invent themselves or risk sacrificing development and prosperity.
Are You the Leader?
Who among you will lead the charge? This is a incredibly personal decision that really should not be taken lightly. It will depend not only on your personal willingness to take on the challenge, but also on the willingness of the important partners who make up most of the energy base at your firm.
If you are up for the challenge, accept this expertise and get on with major. If not, obtain the particular person in your firm who is ready and capable to lead and offer that individual all the support you can. You’ll quickly realize that the quality and commitment of your help for this individual will be recognized as an vital form of leader-ship in its personal proper.
The Genetics of Leadership
It is been stated that some men and women are born leaders. That may be true, but for most of us, leadership is an acquired skill that comes from our mind-set and our need to impact good alter. Similarly, men and women are not born extraordinary. As an alternative, they decide on to achieve extraordinary factors.
As lately as 2003, scientists discovered that our all-natural traits are not “set in stone.” (See Matt Ridley’s Genome and Nature by way of Nurture.) Rather, our genetic code–specifically the code accountable for our brain function–is neither unchanging nor unchangeable. As we respond to the challenges and stimuli in the globe, so do our genes. Depending upon our demands and the degree of our determination, various formulations of our genetic code are activated. This results in the emergence of a new pattern of genetic guidelines. Contrary to what scientists formerly believed, our genes stay active, malleable and fluid throughout our lives.
Till these discoveries were produced, the received wisdom was that the traits that allow us to feel like lawyers or strive for excellence or uncover the courage and charisma to lead have been handed out to us–or not–at birth. It was taken as truth that our neural makeup was mostly dictated by the genetic code we inherited from our parents. If we were fortunate enough to have inherited “smart” genes, it was anticipated that we were destined for greatness if the opposite happened, we were destined to be the village idiot.
In reality, the purpose so handful of of us break out of the mold is not due to genetics at all. It is due to the fact of the reality that, strange as it may well sound, most of us surrender to our strengths rather than engage our weaknesses. If we have a tendency to be naturally gifted in mathematics, we gravitate toward mathematics. If we show an early talent in the arts, we gravitate in that path. It’s simply less difficult to rely on our current strengths than it is to develop new strengths from scratch.
Psychologist and theorist Carl Jung described this irony in his book Psychological Varieties:
“Knowledge shows that it is hardly achievable for any-one to bring all his psychological functions to simultaneous development. The pretty conditions of society enforce a man to apply himself initially and foremost to the differentiation of that function with which he is either most gifted by nature, or which supplies his most productive indicates for social success. Really regularly, certainly as a general rule, a man identifies himself far more or much less entirely with the most favored, therefore the most developed function.”
Considering that Jung’s time, nevertheless, neuroscientists have found that the human tendency to follow the path of least resistance is not merely ironic but counter-productive. We now know that the brain grows stronger, establishing at a significantly higher level, when we force ourselves to think in new and unique strategies.
Till now, you may possibly not have believed of your self as a leader. But that is no cause to think you cannot turn into a single if your motivation is sturdy enough. The initially query to ask your self is this: What does it mean to be a leader?