When you hear the word leadership, what associations do you make? What is leadership? What is leadership not? This past year, I had the opportunity to participate in a Learning Lab hosted by Education Reimagined. Facilitated by Allan Cohen, the group of dozens of educators from around the country arrived at the following artifact distinguishing leadership:
Leadership is the kind of communication that generates:
A space in which people lean in, are their authentic selves, try on each others’ points of view, take risks, and are courageous––where their participation and their contributions can take many forms.
A space in which all voices are heard and respected––even the most quiet voice has a chance to make a difference––and every voice is reflected in what gets produced.
A shared purpose that includes responsibility for the impact on others and the commitment to something greater than themselves.
A translation to acton––action that makes something new happen toward the common purpose.
Contributing leadership is an act of love.
Leadership sparks more leadership.
Leadership can come from anywhere & anyone.
I recall this as such a powerful activity, one that helped me get in better tune with what I personally believe about leadership.
One of the primary roles of a learner-centered leader is to create space for others to exercise agency and manifest their own leadership. In learner-centered learning environments we are all leaders, and we are all learners.
When we start with the individual, titles are irrelevant when working together to take action and make change happen. Everyone has a unique gift to share with the world. Exercising one’s agency to share that gift is itself an act of leadership.
What are your beliefs about leadership? How does this way of distinguishing leadership manifest itself in your organization? How does this particular distinction prompt inquiry into and transformation of your own practice as a leader, regardless of formal role/title?
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