Exploring the Perspectives of an Ideal Leader Discussion

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Part A. Exploring Your Perspectives of an Ideal Leader

So far this week, you have completed all of the assigned readings (Wheatley, Pearson, and Flowers) and watched a bit of Invictus. For the next stage, you will need first to complete the ILT survey. Narrow your results to your top three preferred traits in a leader. Once you have your findings, please explore the following with your classmates (using the film and readings to enhance your thinking):

• how you ranked the characteristics of an ideal leader on the ILT survey
• how this ideal leader is fit for orchestrating organizational and world changes as described by our readings, and
• how these aspects cultivate a leader identity and presence within them

According to these sources and your ILT assessment, what characteristics are needed in a person who claims leadership? What presence is required? Pearson (2012) is surely answering these questions when she notes that “we must respond to these challenges by developing our capacities to think and lead. We must access all our faculties–mental sharpness, emotional depth, body sensations, imagination, creativity, as well as connect with our souls and spirits” (p. 1).
And just as importantly, she explains that we must “harvest the full capacity of those around us…which collectively are greater than what any one of us has alone” (p. 2).

Part B. Claiming a Leader Identity

How does this growth plan cultivate the characteristics and behaviors you identified in ideal leaders with the ILT? Explor how your plan is aligned with your perceived ideal leader traits. And, how it might be inspired by others’ greatness as we saw in the film clip.

Then further, reflect on our materials. How does your projected leader development respond to (or not) Wheatley’s call for courageous leaders? As noted in Pearson’s (2012) introduction, how does the current call for leadership go beyond the popularization of Burns’ “transformational leadership” and lend itself more to Burns’ preferred terminology of “transforming leadership”?