Jazz and Leadership: The Art of Unpredictability and Individual Gifts

Max De Pree once said, “Jazz, like leadership, combines the unpredictability of the future with the gifts of individuals.” This profound statement encapsulates the essence of leadership through the lens of jazz music, a genre known for its spontaneity and reliance on the unique contributions of its performers. In his book “Leadership Jazz,” De Pree delves into the parallels between these two seemingly distinct fields, offering insights that resonate deeply with anyone aspiring to lead effectively.

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Rethinking Leadership: a New Look at Old Questions. 2nd Edition by Donna Ladkin ISBN 978800377301

In the second edition of “Rethinking Leadership,” Donna Ladkin offers a thought-provoking exploration of leadership that challenges conventional perspectives. Ladkin, a respected scholar in leadership studies, builds on her original work, providing new perspectives and a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of leadership in today’s rapidly changing world.

Critical Examination of Conventional Leadership

One of the standout features of Ladkin’s book is her critical examination of conventional leadership theories and practices. She argues that traditional models often simplify leadership into a set of traits or behaviors, neglecting the contextual and relational aspects crucial for effective leadership. Ladkin emphasizes the importance of understanding leadership as a dynamic and situational process rather than a static set of characteristics.

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According to Carol Dweck, there are two basic mindsets, fixed and growth.

These mindsets are a model for how we think, and as a model they help us to explain/understand our reality. But, like all models they are not your reality – they are useful representations but are always incomplete.

Look at the following common models of thinking

• Open/Closed
• Divergence/Convergence
• Exploring/Exploiting
• Disrupting/Capturing
• Creating/Executing
• Unfreeze/Freeze
• Diffuse/Focused
• Growth/Fixed

Continue reading “MINDSHIFTING: Don’t pigeonhole yourself according to a “mindset”, rather use it to understand the way you function.”

Holding organisations together when all is going well is not an easy task.  When all is going well you can inadvertently wander away from core business. Success bring a certain amount of freedom to explore, and can lead to complacency and slowness to respond to circumstances. Success is not often something for which we prepare. 

It is in that context that we can ask:

Why have so many seemingly successful companies failed in recent years?  Why is there widespread anxiety over company/organisational leadership?  Why are so many countries questioning the quality and effectiveness of their political leadership?

Is it a lack of preparedness?  Is it an inability to cope with success?  Have we even thought about what success is?

Continue reading “Success is harder to handle than failure – why we need to be reflective in all we do”