Another beautifully written post by Carman de Voer:
Hi Lisa,
For the last few weeks I’ve been pruning a figurative olive tree http://www.freewebs.com/gwencarm/–a Promethean task, to say the least, but one, I hope, will also “light up the mind.”
I’m not at all surprised that you would integrate love and leadership. Though we have never met I believe you are “unconditionally committed to another’s completion, to another being all that she or he can and wants to be”—The Fifth Discipline, p.285 (Senge’s defininition of love is superb, don’t you think?)
Leadership, like many ideas, has deteriorated into a mere synonym for management. The story of Prometheus speaks to what leadership really means. Prior to his rebellion, Prometheus and Epimetheus [his brother] were, I propose, managers, in that they enacted the goals of the Olympian Establishment. Essentially, they were “chosen” to perpetuate the status quo. At some point Prometheus became a leader—a radical, a [peaceful] revolutionary whose learning program became an indirect attack on the prerogatives of power-holders.
Prometheus the Leader
Prometheus envisaged a new race of beings of higher intelligence fitted to worship and serve the gods in a manner pleasing to their greatness. Prometheus and Epimetheus were chosen to complete the creation. “We will make the new beings in the likeness of the gods themselves. They shall not bend their face to the earth, but shall stand erect and turn their eyes heavenward.” Prometheus shaped the clay into a figure in the likeness of the gods. Eros imbued it with life and Athena imparted to it wisdom.
Prometheus longed to give humanity more and greater gifts, to light up the mind within it that might glow with a noble ardor; to make it lord of the lower creation; to enable the new god-like race to attain to greater heights of wisdom and knowledge and power. But no fire existed on the earth. He remembered the divine fire which could help to make humanity all-powerful—the sacred fire of Zeus.
Prometheus asked himself, “Could I steal it from the abode of the gods?” The very thought brought terror. Swift and merciless would be the vengeance of Zeus upon such a thief. More fearful would be his agonies than those inflicted upon the rebellious Titans.
Prometheus the Designer, Steward, Teacher
The thought of humanity inspired and ennobled by the divine fire quenched the reality of his own inevitable punishment and on a night heavy with clouds he stealthily ascended the holy mountain and lit the reed he carried with the divine fire. He had counted the cost and was prepared to pay it.
Prometheus revealed to humankind the divine fire and showed them
• how it would help them in their labors;
• how it would melt metals and fashion tools;
• how it would cook food and make life bearable in the bronze days of winter;
• how it would give light in darkness so that humankind might labour and travel in the night-time as well as by day.
• how to dig the fields and grow corn and herbs;
• how to build houses and cover their roofs with thatch;
• how to tame the beasts of the forests and make them serve them.
The sacred flame also gave inspiration and enthusiasm, and urged humanity on to achieve increasingly higher and greater things. The whole earth thrilled with their activities, and in their midst moved Prometheus, teaching, guiding, opening out before humanity’s delighted eyes fresh fields for effort and attainment.
Prometheus the Radical
There came a day when the points of light scattered over the surface of the earth. Zeus thundered, “Who is it that has stolen the fire from heaven?” “It is I” answered Prometheus calmly. “Why did you do this thing?” “Because I loved humankind! I longed to give them some gift that would raise them above the brute creation and bring them nearer the gods. Not all your power, Ruler of heaven and earth, can put out these fires.”
As Zeus listened to these words his rage turned to hatred of the being who dared defy his power. Zeus summoned his son Hephaestus, the god of the forge, and ordered him, “make a chain that nothing can break, and chain him to a cliff. I will send an eagle who each day shall devour his liver, causing him horrible torments day and night; each day it shall devour his liver; and each night it shall grow again, so that in the morning his suffering may be renewed.”
Prometheus replied, “So be it, O tyrant. Because you are strong, you are merciless. My theft has done you no harm; there is still fire to spare on Olympus. In your selfishness you will not share a privilege though it would advance the whole race of mankind. It may not be for long that you will sit in the high seat of the gods!”
The myth teaches me that “transformational leadership” comes with great cost. The myth’s core issue is control! The myth teaches me that the nexus of love and leadership does not take place in a cultural or organizational vacuum. The values and ideologies of power-holders will invariably be threatened. Those like Prometheus and “the good shepherd” [translation=the ideal leader John Chapter 10: 1-20] who desire humanity to have higher quality of life will pay dearly—possibly with their own lives.
Bye for now!
Carman
Hi Carman,
You have a real gift for writing. I really appreciate your quoting Senge’s definition of love as being “unconditionally committed to another’s completion, to another being all that she or he can and wants to be”(The Fifth Discipline, p.285). That definition is an excellent description of the coaching relationship.
Yes, the term leadership is sometimes used as a mere synonym for management, which of course it isn’t!
It’s interesting to consider Promethius as a leader. His actions were all designed to empower others, to make human beings all that they “can and want to be.” You observe the very important point that “the nexus of love and leadership does not take place in a cultural or organizational vacuum.” In a context of the absolute, permanent hierarchy between gods and humans, Promethius sought more equality — and shared power (fire is a terrific analogy for power in that it is a form of energy and it can be shared and thus multiplied). Because Zeus did not share this value, he punished Promethius (most likely as a warning to others as a Dominator strategy for maintaining power).
So, yes, revolutionaries who lead others in opposition to entrenched interests (the context of this story) often do pay dearly.
But I am intrigued with this question as to whether “transformational leadership” always comes with such a great cost. Perhaps we can explore some examples of transformational leadership, including the context, to consider variables and outcomes.
Would that be of interest?
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for the e-mail. Does “transformational leadership” always come with great cost? Perhaps “invariably” should supplant “always” since it allows for exceptions. I am acutely interested in discussing transformational leadership. I’ll ruminate on the idea, commit some thoughts to the page, and publish them as soon as possible.
I like to take time to prepare because I hold your blog to be a shirt and tie [or tuxedo] event, if I may put it that way. I dislike those sites where respondents simply disgorge their thoughts onto the page without due care and consideration–much like someone appearing at an event in sloven attire. So disrespectful. Your blog is exceptional–and I always want to treat it as such. So your patience is appreciated.
Preparatory to examples of transformational leadership I believe we should define our terms–the way we are using the words and phrases. I’ll attempt to do such when I post. How does that sound?
Steel and flint Lisa. Steel and flint. I knew we would alternate becoming steel and flint–generating sparks of creativity. Wonderful!
Bye for now,
carman
Hi Carman,
Thank you for your note. Your thought process is “always” 🙂
exceptional and your writing is such a pleasure to read. I look
forward to hearing your further thoughts, at a time that works well
for you.
Yes, defining our terms is an excellent idea. That notion pulled at me, even as I worked on a post I hope to publish later this week on how managers often unconsciously adopt parental control strategies (fear, guilt, and hope of reward) into the workplace. Such a definition of terms would benefit our readers and illuminate our topic.
If I may share, I am using the term as it was used by James MacGregor Burns. who distinguished transformational leadership from transactional leadership. “Transformational leadership refers to the process whereby an individual engages with others and creates a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and the follower. This type of leader is attentive to the needs and motives of followers and tries to help followers reach their fullest potential.” (Northouse, Leadership Theory and Practice, 3rd
Ed., p. 170).
That said, my (developing) perspective on Transformative Leadership reflects my own holistic/organismic/Partnership orientation, and so perhaps it might be better expressed as “holistic-transformative.” I’m intrigued by the implications of holism and organicism for organizations… (I appreciate your thoughts about steel and flint — our conversations definitely spark new ideas and connections for me, and I really value them).
Because our email discussion develops our train of thought, I think this exchange might add tp the comments section of the post.
Would you be comfortable with my posting them there?
Warm regards,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
By all means, please feel free to post whatever you like. I, too, love a room with lots of fresh air, light and windows.
carman
Thank you, Carman. I so appreciate our conversation. Opening another window … 🙂
Lisa
Your definition of transformational leadership seems to align with a discussion from St. Mary’s University. With your indulgence, I will include the article “The Core Principles of Managing People”} as a launching pad for our discussion. I like how the article uses the acronym HTML: Hire the best, Treat them well, be Fair, Leadership. I’ll respond to this article and your comments later on.
[http://www.smu.ca/partners/smubdc/htmls/documents/Core%20Principles%20For%20Managing%20People.pdf
http://www.googlesyndicatedsearch.com/u/saintmarysuniv?q=transformational+leadership&sa=Go
http://www.smu.ca/…/Core%20Principles%20For%20Managing%20People.pdf
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