In ancient instances the totem pole was a symbolic expression of previous generations. It offered data about a tribe’s identity–a sort of linear -understanding of generations that came before them and the leaders who showed them the way. It enforced group solidarity and supplied a essential relational context to their lives.
The totem pole was worshiped and ritualized. The history of a whole tribe could be understood by this a single linear expression. Symbolic communication, as a group organizing strategy, is also found in law firms. Law firms proudly list their partners’ names on letterhead and post them on doorways. Generally some of the names are symbols of the past–a lasting recognition of these who came prior to as nicely as these who are at present carrying the torch of the firm’s traditions into the future. This symbolic communication portrays the history of a firm’s leader-ship and is an indicator of predicted overall performance. But what occurs when the firm’s past is forced to yield to the firm’s future? When it becomes needed for the firm to reinvent itself and set out new organizing principles that match its vision–when the old belief method is no longer in sync with the requires and demands of altering markets and customers? Most firms are facing this challenge ideal now, and some are not even conscious of it. The partners I spoke with clearly recognized the have to have to re-invent themselves or danger sacrificing growth and prosperity.
Are You the Leader?
Who among you will lead the charge? This is a extremely individual choice that ought to not be taken lightly. It will depend not only on your own willingness to take on the challenge, but also on the willingness of the key partners who make up most of the power base at your firm.
If you are up for the challenge, accept this knowledge and get on with major. If not, locate the particular person in your firm who is prepared and capable to lead and provide that person all the help you can. You are going to quickly understand that the top quality and commitment of your support for this particular person will be recognized as an important type of leader-ship in its personal right.
The Genetics of Leadership
It really is been stated that some folks are born leaders. That might be true, but for most of us, leadership is an acquired talent that comes from our mind-set and our desire to effect positive alter. Similarly, people today are not born extraordinary. Rather, they pick out to achieve extraordinary issues.
As not too long ago as 2003, scientists discovered that our all-natural traits are not “set in stone.” (See Matt Ridley’s Genome and Nature through Nurture.) Rather, our genetic code–in particular the code responsible for our brain function–is neither unchanging nor unchangeable. As we respond to the challenges and stimuli in the globe, so do our genes. Depending upon our wants and the degree of our determination, various formulations of our genetic code are activated. This final results in the emergence of a new pattern of genetic instructions. Contrary to what scientists formerly believed, our genes stay active, malleable and fluid throughout our lives.
Until these discoveries had been produced, the received wisdom was that the traits that allow us to feel like lawyers or strive for excellence or come across the courage and charisma to lead were handed out to us–or not–at birth. It was taken as truth that our neural makeup was primarily dictated by the genetic code we inherited from our parents. If we had been fortunate adequate to have inherited “intelligent” genes, it was anticipated that we were destined for greatness if the opposite occurred, we had been destined to be the village idiot.
In reality, the reason so couple of of us break out of the mold is not due to genetics at all. It’s mainly because of the reality that, strange as it may perhaps sound, most of us surrender to our strengths rather than engage our weaknesses. If we tend to be naturally gifted in mathematics, we gravitate toward mathematics. If we show an early talent in the arts, we gravitate in that direction. It is merely much easier to rely on our current strengths than it is to develop new strengths from scratch.
www.auslawreview.com.au and theorist Carl Jung described this irony in his book Psychological Types:
“Knowledge shows that it is hardly feasible for any-one to bring all his psychological functions to simultaneous development. The incredibly circumstances of society enforce a man to apply himself initially and foremost to the differentiation of that function with which he is either most gifted by nature, or which delivers his most successful signifies for social achievement. Incredibly regularly, indeed as a basic rule, a man identifies himself much more or much less absolutely with the most favored, hence the most developed function.”
Considering that Jung’s time, nonetheless, neuroscientists have found that the human tendency to adhere to the path of least resistance is not merely ironic but counter-productive. We now know that the brain grows stronger, establishing at a much higher level, when we force ourselves to assume in new and distinctive techniques.
Until now, you may perhaps not have thought of yourself as a leader. But that is no explanation to believe you can’t grow to be 1 if your motivation is sturdy sufficient. The initially query to ask yourself is this: What does it mean to be a leader?