Creative Leadership Coaching

While the following may shock the sensibilities of some, I want to emphasize that I am doing sociology, not ideology. That is, I am not exalting one political system above another or indicting either management or labor. Rather, I am attempting to understand the themes of domination, exploitation, and dehumanization-recurring issues on this site. Hopefully, [...]

Hi Lisa, It’s so good to be back. Internet interruption, following a move to another apartment, has afforded me ample opportunity to consider your question: “What steps can leaders take to create an environment of trust and safety to support open and constructive communication?” I consider your question to be “pragmatic” in that it concerns [...]

Carman,  Thank you for offering the example of Orwell’s Oceania, as perhaps the ultimate example of a Dominator organization. Oceania is perhaps a pure example of a direction that human organizations can take when their core value is power (money and power-over) and there are no other strong mitigating values or externally or situationally imposed [...]

Hi Lisa,Thank you for your illuminating pool of insights on the “dominator system” and “dominator paradigm.” I reflected on your comments all week-especially while walking to work over Vancouver’s Cambie Street Bridge. Fear and punishment seem to be the dominant emotions fostered by dominator systems. Orwell’s Oceania-a caricature of the ultimate exploitative and oppressive system-exemplifies [...]

Carman, In re-reading your post, http://www.creativeleadercoach.com/2009/06/22/our-house-from-carman-de-voer/ I continue to notice new levels of richness and meaning. Freire describes some of the core insights of Partnership: “Any situation in which some individuals prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence” (Pedagogy of the Oppressed, p.66). Yes, as Freire describes, domination is [...]

Hi Lisa,Once again, your exquisite examination of the dimensions of leadership brought me to the mouth of the cave [psychic prison] and enabled me to more fully comprehend the shadows on the wall [organizations]. Because it is a recurring theme in your treatment, I would like to discuss “transformation.” Transformation, in my opinion, is not [...]

In a recent post, Carman de Voer noted the distinction between leadership and management. These two different functions often converge within a particular role, but tend to draw upon different kinds of power. Management is associated with control, which is a highly reputable value and principle in most organizations. The process of management itself has [...]

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 [...]

“Of all the things that sustain a leader over time, love is the most lasting. It’s hard to imagine leaders getting up day after day, putting in the long hours and hard work it takes to get extraordinary things done, without having their hearts in it. The best kept secret of successful leaders is staying [...]

Interesting article on forms of organization — hierarchal, market, and collaborative .. http://www.heckscher.us/The%20evolving%20nature%20of%20professional%20work.doc