TED* Thoughts

In going back through a backlog of emails, I came across one from a colleague that contained a link to a blog posted at the Harvard Business Review by Umair Haque, entitled “The Builder’s Manifesto.”  In it he suggests that the idea of leadership, as we commonly speak of it, is a “relic of the 20^th Century” and, therefore, outdated.

Instead, he argues that what we need are “Builders,” rather than leaders.  I think what he is describing are Creators.  He goes on to contrast what a “boss” does to what a “leader” does to that which is the focus of a “builder.”  As you read his “ten principles of Constructivism,” try substituting “Creator” for Builder:

1. The boss drives group members; the leader coaches them. The Builder learns from them.
2. The boss depends upon authority; the leader on good will. The Builder depends on good.
3. The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm. The Builder is inspired — by changing the world.
4. The boss says “I”; the leader says “we”. The Builder says “all” — people, communities, and society.
5. The boss assigns the task, the leader sets the pace. The Builder sees the outcome.
6. The boss says, “Get there on time;” the leader gets there ahead of time. The Builder makes sure “getting there” matters.
7. The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the leader fixes the breakdown. The Builder prevents the breakdown.
8. The boss knows how; the leader shows how. The Builder shows why.
9. The boss makes work a drudgery; the leader makes work a game. The Builder organizes love, not work.
10. The boss says, “Go;” the leader says, “Let’s go.” The Builder says: “come.”

Interesting notion and contrast.  While I may not agree with everything in the blog (which I suggest that you read), he writes as a Challenger to some of my own assumptions about leadership.

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(“TED* Thoughts” is a published three times a week [at least most of the time]. It is intended to offer reflections and applications of The Power of TED* in order help facilitate a shift in worldview and relationship dynamics from the Drama Triangle [or the Dreaded Drama Triangle] to The Empowerment Dynamic [TED*].  Please help spread TED* by sharing this “TED* Thoughts” and by contributing your own thoughts by posting a comment.  To the Creator in you!)

Tags: Challenger, Creator

This entry was posted on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 5:27 am and is filed under TED*, TED* @ Work. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.