Power Up: Transforming Organizations Through Shared Leadership

THE THREE ELEMENTS OF POST-HEROIC LEADERSHIP

In Part One, the heroic and post-heroic leadership systems were introduced, along with an overview of the attractions and terrors of shared leadership. Part Two explains in depth the three elements needed to implement a new system of leadership: a shared-responsibility team, tangible vision, and mutual influence. Each reinforces the others, making it possible to create a team in which all members feel ownership for outcomes. Shared responsibility for managing and making most important decisions builds the commitment that enables high performance; tangible vision pulls team members together; and mutual influence skills make it possible to get the best from everyone. All three are needed to create a system of shared responsibility leadership and to prevent backsliding.

BUILDING A SHARED - RESPONSIBILITY TEAM

Imagine a team whose members are each committed to the same vision and are fully collaborative. Everyone contributes his or her unique expertise, and everyone fights for what he or she believes to be best for the unit. These fights are spirited but not personal; they are motivated by differences over the best way to reach the common goal. Comradeship makes it possible for any member to ask for and receive help. Team members hold each ...