2 Processes of leadership

Processes of leadership in this week’s learning stand for all of those verbal, interpersonal and relational practices followed at work. This week you will learn about some common processes through which leadership is practised.

Activity 2 Processes of leadership in your workplace

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

Think about a typical day at work. How do people tend to interact? Is it face-to-face, formally in meetings or informally and in a more ad hoc manner? In these forums, how do people communicate? Do they tell stories, make mini speeches, emphasise exploration through asking questions or prefer a more confrontational attitude towards one another?

Comment

All organisations perform leadership differently, depending on a coming together of all kinds of things – people, traditions, spaces and technologies. Ideally, the processes though which an organisation conducts its business are aligned with its professed values and goals. For example, if an organisation is committed to listening to and involving its volunteers, it designs its processes in such a way as to do just this.

In the following sections you will learn about some examples of processes that we believe are important for leadership. These processes represent some important ways of practising leadership for decision making, galvanising support and taking action. These processes are:

  • Critical reflection
  • Constructive debate
  • Asking awkward questions
  • Telling powerful stories

Note, these processes, amongst others, will be expanded upon in much greater detail in the successor course, Collaborative leadership in voluntary organisations [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .

1 Defining leadership practice

2.1 Critical reflection