20130202
Extracted from P2P Foundation
Authored by Sharif Abdullah:
An Emergence has five very important factors. In an Emergence…
1. The group has a large number of independent actors, all sharing information.
2. There is a lack of control over any individual’s behavior.
3. The actors share a common vision, simple values, and/or rules.
4. The actors have largely interchangeable roles.
5. The actors have the same goals and objectives.
We know the role of old-style leadership: tell the sheeple what to do. Whether it’s the “boss” on the shop floor, or the old-style politician wheeling and dealing in the corridors of power, leadership equals control, and control equals power.
Not in an Emergence.
Here’s a quote from Stephen Johnson, author of the book “Emergence”:
“Without an active leader who takes responsibility for building a network, spontaneous connection between groups emerges very slowly, or not at all.” So, what are the five key elements of Emergent Leadership?
1. Encourage/ stimulate lots of actors (help build critical mass).
2. Articulate simple, consistent rules.
3. Articulate simple, deep values and goals.
4. Articulate simple, appropriate roles.
5. Assume NO direct command and control.
Trying to do direct democracy and consensus without a unifying vision is frustrating at its very best, impossible at its worst. This is why I developed a “Catalyst Leader Training Program” over a decade ago – to educate the kinds of leaders that are needed at this time in our history. A Catalyst-Leader is more facilitator and cheerleader than controller – a person with no ego-need to command or demand others to act. The goal of the training program is to develop a more Taoist style of leadership, so that, when the Catalyst-Leader acts, the people say, “we did this ourselves!”
COMMENTS:
I will say, I really like this and would apply these ideas to the leadership of the Sola Roof Coop