7 Summary of Week 2

Leadership is frequently misappropriated. Leadership is not management or command, both of which can be valuable but also problematic. Confusing the practices can lead to disempowerment. Management is about introducing routine, predictability and control. Command is about following orders. Although leadership can be misused as a category, it is the case that organisations should aim for a good balance of leadership, management and command. Usually, however, organisations tend to background leadership, probably because it is the practice that is most disruptive. That seems like a good reason for you to focus more on leadership as an approach to advance racial equity and justice. The Rosa Parks case provides a rich detail for you to better understand the varied dynamics of leadership. Be sure to refer back to it as you proceed through the course.

You should now be able to:

• describe and analyse the main features of management and command so that you are better positioned to identify them in practice
• critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of management and command in relation to leadership
• better appreciate the diverse qualities of leadership, via reflection on the practice of a major civil rights activist.

Next week you will begin your journey through the Five Ps of leadership, starting with a focus on leadership as person.

You can now go to Week 3 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .