Just recently published the June 2008 issue of Integral Leadership Review. I want to call you attention to an article by Alain Gautier, a core member of Senge’s Society for Organizational Learning who also consults and trains in France and Africa. His article is about the development of a number of leadership development programs based on integral models, theories and approaches.

While this article is a work in progress (there are other programs that he has not yet included in his study) it does provide a list of a couple of dozen such programs around the world. These programs are in all domains and range from a UNDP program, university-based programs (most of them) and programs offered by training/consulting firms.

I personally know of one such program that focuses on CEOs of companies that has proven to be highly successful. It is a year-long program, involves quarterly meetings, ongoing coaching and a number of other approaches. From every report I have seen from participants and from the fact that subscriptions to these programs have been growing, as well as the rapid expansion of this companies services, it is clear to me that the development of integral approaches to leadership is thriving and taking a foothold around the world.

Allow me to contrast this with much of the information I see coming from the stars of leadership development. Recently, I read a magazine that typically includes short, one page articles by these stars. What I see in this material and much of the other leadership development literature includes a lot of what Chris Argyris calls “flawed advice.” Essentially, that involves giving people advice that they cannot implement under current conditions.

Is there an alternative? I think integral offers a more viable alternative and in my next blog I will outline why I believe this. In the meanwhile, where are the defenders of flawed advice? Where are the defenders of the “you really oughta wanna” school of leadership development? What have they got to say for themselves? Help me find a path back to this mainstream that makes any sense at all! - Russ Volckmann

Johann Hari wrote an interesting editorial this week for The Independent titled “Our infantile search for heroic leaders”. As of this posting their are 57 comments to the editorial with many very thoughtful contributions. Do you think Hari is off-base or justified in using hyperbole in making his point? Do you agree you agree with his tactics? How about his conclusion?

Peter A. Mello

Susan R. Komives posted the below update to the “Leadership Network Listserv” at the University of Maryland on June 25, 2008. Very interesting stuff… Check it out! –Casey

From the World’s Future Society Listserv–

HOW YOU LEAD - http://www.howyoulead.org/

The Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government teamed with the Ken Blanchard Companies in May to identify the key questions we should be asking those who wish to lead us. Though the questions are specifically geared toward the U.S. presidential candidates, the issues are appropriate for anyone seeking to become a leader or to improve his or her leadership abilities. Among the leadership-probing questions suggested:

• What are your five core values, and how will they shape how you lead?
• What experiences have helped you deeply understand the mind-set and values of other cultures?
• Can you share some examples of when you were a catalyst who brought groups with polarized opinions together so that all voices were at the table?
• Tell us about a time when your judgment was tested in crisis. What do you want us to appreciate about your judgment?
• How will you create an environment for innovation within your leadership team?

The site also invites visitors to contribute their own leadership questions.

I recently got back from a global study in South Africa- looking at the K-16 educational system there. Something that really fascinated me regarding leadership involves one of the biggest challenges facing K-12 (called R-12 there) education- teachers’ attendance at school. No, not the children’s, but the teachers’! Every given day 18% of teachers are not at school, and sadly the situation is worse off in lower-income, all-Black schools. Naturally the leadership question about commitment and responsibility come in around teachers’ attendance- but looking at the larger system there is another factor key in this- lack of leadership in the principals and their equivalent of superintendents in the school system. There were schools that we visited that the principals (and vice-principals) weren’t there, and no one really knew where they were. It’s not uncommon for principals to rarely show up, and when they do they are drunk. No wonder the teachers fail to show up- they have poor leadership in the schools, and they probably feel cheated when they work hard and their principal isn’t present.

Now we met some amazing principals that certainly are the opposite of this problem. We were at a rural, under-funded, all-Black school with all township children that was absolutely amazing! The principal was beyond dedicated, she was active with the teachers and in the classrooms- and this school was having 100% of their seniors pass their exit exams (normally schools with this demographic have only 60% -70% pass these exit exams). All the students who would be graduating this year has jackets that said: “Destiny Awaits, Keep Walking- Matric 08″- and they word them with pride. The teachers were engaged and cared, and the students reflected this too. This certainly demonstrated to me the effect we can have on each other and the larger system in effectively taking up our roles and responsibilities. Here is an article about a girl from this school…Paige Haber

I came across this very inspirational video on YouTube.

I’m sure a unique context surrounds each of the brief yet powerful examples in the video. Nonetheless, each one forces you to rethink the idea of success and how one person comes to influence many people. Often it’s easy to forget that the great individuals of society we essentially take for granted usually do not have a direct path to the mountain’s summit. - Jim Meehan