plays well with others

Gary Yukl’s 2002 book, Leadership in Organizations, cites an early study of leadership conducted by Ohio State University that created a list of 1,800 examples of leadership behaviors. The authors whittled the list down to 150, and then identified the two most critical leadership behaviors as; 1) consideration, and 2) initiating structure. I translate that as: A leader needs to be nice and play by the rules (rules that they help establish/clarify).

When you were a child, consensus on which rules were being used in a game was essential for determining how much disagreement about the outcome was going to take place. In the game Four Square, is palming the ball allowed?; in Tether ball, will double hits be allowed?; in Monopoly will the monies collected from fees and fines be put into a joint kitty to be won be the player landing on Free Parking? If the rules are not clearly established, then argument will surely ensue (and your brother will flick the game board upside down and storm off in anger…purely a hypothetical example).

Rules are essential. The rules of a school, formal or informal, are a major component of its culture.

However, the concept of ‘rules’ is far different than ‘initiating structure’. The key word there is ‘initiating’. A workplace already has its set of rules. The leader, if he or she is acting as a change agent, is by definition in the position of changing the status quo. Reform requires a change in the rules of operation. Sometimes the leader may even have to act as a change terrorist and blow up the existing structure. For the veteran staff this is akin to changing the rules in the middle of the game (so watch out for the equivalent of the scattering of houses, hotels, and other play pieces caused by this upset).

Buckminster Fuller’s view on rules and rule-changing is that leaders should create a new system that makes the existing reality obsolete (I know, easier said than done, but it still should remain the goal). Effective leaders can direct the flow of change with the use of positive influence. Yukl states that “Influence is the essence of leadership” (p. 141). Influence means that you can impact the structure. So, that is a quick idealist primer on the ‘initiating structure’ piece of leadership.

Rules and structure are one component and ‘consideration’ is the other component. The trait, consideration, connotes an understanding and appreciation of other people‘s view, combined with the ability to communicate with them. The antithesis of this is exemplified by the chain gang boss in the film Cool Hand Luke, who utters the classic line in response to Luke’s (Paul Newman) continual conflict with the rules, “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate”.

Consideration. Be nice. Play by the rules.

Here is a thought: When school systems file a posting for an administrative position, the usual routine is to have the candidate submit a resume, 3 letters of recommendation, and college transcripts. Perhaps the process should be amended…candidates should submit copies of their report cards from 4th grade to see if their early character development demonstrates the proper credentials as evidenced by the praise “plays well with others”.

Make a good day,
Tod

PS. An excellent synopsis of Fuller's ideas on leadership, this should be mandatory reading for all leaders: http://www.readyaiminspire.com/Buckminster_Fuller_Leadership_By_Design.html

PSS. Clip from Cool Hand Luke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_aVuS7cOIQ

PSSS. Other quotes from Cool Hand Luke: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061512/quotes

PSSSS. A snippet from Yukl's book: http://217.140.32.103/media/F7B/97/randd-leaders-business-yukl.pdf