Leadership for the Greater Good:
Global Thought Leaders Explore Today's Challenges
ILA’s blog launched in March 2020 amid a world struggling to make sense of the pandemic, racial inequality, and challenges to democracy. We charge our bloggers to apply their leadership knowledge and practical wisdom to inform and inspire us as we continued our work of advancing leadership knowledge and practice for a better world. Bloggers include authors from 12 countries spanning 5 continents.
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Putinology
How long will the Russian people put up with Putin’s aggression in Ukraine? In an authoritarian state, you need the support of the elite. As living standards begin to fall and more Russian and Ukrainian lives are lost, Matt Qvortrup, an expert on comparative democracy, argues that Putin’s position will become more and more precarious.
The Secret Life of Leadership Rocks
Rocks are referred to frequently in leadership literature — from “bedrocks” to “big rocks” and “touchstones” to “cornerstones.” In Aotearoa, rocks occupy an important space in Māori culture. Professor Chellie Spiller opens a window on this Indigenous wisdom, raising intriguing questions for leaders on the role rocks play in their organizations and their practice of leadership.
May the Life-Force Be With You in 2022
Chellie Spiller discusses the important role leaders have in cultivating and nourishing the vibe or mauri (life force, vital essence) of an organization and of tending to the wellbeing of people, communities, and economies.
Contemplating a World Challenged by Social Cohesion Erosion, Livelihood Crises, and Mental Health Deterioration
The 2022 World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report reveals that global experts and leaders are worried. Key indicators like social cohesion and mental health have worsened under the pandemic. Erwin Schwella shares a leadership model that attempts to make sense of and deal with complex societal challenges such as these in analytical and active ways.
End of the Age of Arrogance?
People in positions of power and influence, like Prime Minister Boris Johnson, tennis star Novak Djokovic, and Prince Andrew, seem to believe that they are free to operate above the rules. But the tide of public opinion is turning against these egregious displays of privilege and inequality. Dr. Richard Bolden uses these cases to shed light on the reciprocal and relational nature of leadership.
Leadership and the God of Small Things
In the middle of COP26, Keith Grint asks: “How do we mobilize the population to take responsibility for the planet when their personal contribution might appear to them to be materially irrelevant?” And, what does this have to do with notions about leadership, followership, and systemic change?
A Crisis of Trust
The level of distrust between individuals and within organizations has become so corrosive it demands the attention of every leader. Katherine Tyler Scott discusses the three Cs of trust: competence, character, and compassion.
Leadership as Integrity and Trust
Leadership is impossible without integrity, and integrity is inconceivable without trust. Erwin Schwella explores the interconnections between these concepts in his latest blog. He concludes, quite starkly that the flip side – leadership corruption – is deadly and kills.
Leadership and the Quest for Certainty
Keith Grint explores the collision of uncertainty, perceptions of leadership effectiveness, and decision-making in his latest ILA blog.
In Defense of Leadership (and Followership)
Are the terms leadership, leading, and leader simply too toxic to be useful anymore? ILA member Sharna Fabiano explores this provocative question in our latest blog.
Utilizing Humble Inquiry to Achieve Humble Leadership
In today’s VUCA world, leaders can’t simply “figure things out.” They must depend on colleagues and followers to provide needed information and expertise. To be successful, Ed and Peter Schein argue, leaders must be humble and engage in humble inquiry.
Does Size Matter for Leadership?
Keith Grint ranges from Shakespeare’s Henry V to tweets from Donald Trump to expose the invisible privilege associated with being tall and the assumption that has long prevailed in human society that greater height correlates with attributions of leadership, particularly among men.