4 Re-imagining our leaders
To conclude this week of learning we are going to turn the tables on the leadership as person approach, reinterpreting its main features and arguments in a critical and reflective way. The purpose of this exercise is to see whether we might be able to construct and debate the kinds of things a great leader in the voluntary sector might stand for, say and do.
Activity 6 Reimagining your leaders
Visit the discussion forum [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] and find the thread for this activity. Reply to the thread by finish the following sentence:
‘My ideal leader in the voluntary sector would … ‘
Justify your answer and provide some concrete examples of the kinds of things your symbolic leader would do: how would these characteristics manifest? You can even give your ideal leader a fictionalised name if you like.
After reflecting on your answer, post a response to at least two of your fellow learners and ask them some questions about their leaders. How would their symbolic leader handle a particular kind of meeting, or tricky conversation with a funder, for example?
The week concludes by reflecting on the key practice for the week, that of constructing.
3.1 Surviving narcissism