“Leading from Not Knowing” An Exploration in Leadership
September 7, 2004
Leading in the Old World
• Learn the ropes • Gain experience • Get promoted to leadership position • Control based on what you know • Manage the process • Have the answers
What happens
At the
Margins
Matters
The New Economy
90% of all scientists are Alive Today
The New Economy 75% of GE Revenues
The New Economy
70% of the value of a new car is in the intangibles
The New Economy
The New Economy
The New Economy
% of World Population Living in a Market System
1960-1999: Changes in Trade
50%
3.8%
The Changing World of Work
• Most of the 20th century – Average: one job and one career • Today – 2 careers and 7 jobs • 30 years ago had to learn one new skill a year. – Today 1 per day – Tomorrow l per hour?
The New Economy
“3 Billion People Want Everything
AND THEY WANT IT NOW”
Slow Social Technological Institutional Controlled Acceptance Innovation Control Diffusion And Change
Rapid Social Technological Institutional Market Acceptance Innovation Acceptance Diffusion And Change
The New Economy
New Technology New Institutions
New Values
2 Major Trends
• Rise of the Knowledge Worker
• Organizations Moving into Uncharted Territory – Operating at the Margin
P 18
Principles for Operating At The Margin
What Needs to Happen
Emergent Collective Wisdom© Intelligence ©
What Needs to Happen Enhanced BrainEquity©
Emergent Collective Wisdom© Intelligence ©
Role of the Leader
• Ensure Good Questions Get Asked • Bring Groups Together – Work on problems – Solve those problems • Facilitate collaboration and communication process
The Leader – Generating Results at the Margin • Be vulnerable • Share the problem • State the unknowns • Articulate the dilemmas • Task the team (knowledge workers) with creating direction and solutions • Communicate a sense that A SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND.
Leader as Facilitator • “Hold the space” – Allow people to learn – Allow people to communicate – Make it safe for people to contribute • Ensure the process is working i.e. – Goal/vision is being set – People are aligned with the vision – Criteria and measurement is being discussed – Good questions are being asked • Embody the values that allow wisdom to emerge – Listen respectfully – Don’t impose ONE approach – Ask good questions – Communicate when you change your mind i.e. when you learn something new
“Leading from Not Knowing” An Exploration in Leadership
September 7, 2004
Original PDF
Originally published 2004-09-24 · Legacy CMS article #6787