Image https://mondaymorningmusings.org/2015/08/30/are-you-really-leading/
When I was looking for a chart to demonstrate a clearer understanding of transformational leadership this chart stood out for several reasons. First, I liked it's simplicity, the lack of a lot of words but the meaning of the written words to be thought provoking. Bass and Steidlmeier (1999), define a leader as someone who is motivated by a moral purpose, committed to cooperative action, unity, social ethical choices, trust and a clear understanding of values. A transformational leader can be defined is a person who sets the objectives or the path to be taken for themselves and others. An inspirational leader I believe is someone who has walked the path for themselves and has experienced the failures and the successes along the way. All of these terms have one binding thread and that is an individual motivated through a belief to make positive change for their followers. When they have done this they will be able to rise to the challenges presented to them. This internal direction will help them to press on to reach greater rewards for them self and those around them. By reaching this level of personal understanding the individual can evolve to inspire others to meet individual and group goals. By establishing the goals they will be able to lead by example and the circle will start again.
The chart above by Riggo (2014) has 4 divisions which include intellectual stimulation, inspirational stimulation, individualized consideration and idealized influence. When reviewing the chart I began to see many similarities between it and the medicine wheel. I use the medicine wheel often in my teaching to help ground my students so both representations of leadership help to instill an understanding that if one is to lead they must be connected to those that follow. One step cannot be totally effective without being bond in someway to the other elements.The chart flows in a clockwise direction which is significant in some First Nations cultures. The chart is also created in a circle to illustrate that all things are connected as one cannot exist without the other. The circle is part of healing, knowledge and understanding of the world that surrounds First Nations people. Another similarity to the medicine wheel is that the chart is divided into quadrants. In the medicine wheel each section represents a different direction and is symbolized by a colour. For example North is white (like the snow) East is yellow (like the sun rise ), south is red ( like heat and fire) and west is black (like the setting sun or night). This is the analogy I use to help explain the medicine wheel to my younger students. The four sections also represent the stages of life, the seasons, different aspects of life such as emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical. Each of the four parts also symbolize the 4 elements of nature which include, water, fire, air and earth. The animals such as bear and wolf are represented and finally traditional plants such as tobacco, sweet grass , sage and cedar. Riggo's (2014), chart representing transformational leadership also includes a holistic connectivity to each of the parts. He describes a leader as one who encourages personal growth which can inspire change and compassion for team members in the development of partnership as well as a respect for all.
To bring this learning to the 21st century student technology has afforded the learner with the tools to analysis and compare different forms of leadership in a cross cultural manner. In this case the comparison has been made between the transformational leadership model and the medicine wheel. Providing students with the digital tools to share their observations and thoughts helps to develop dialogue among others that are interested in the same topics.
The significance and connection of these two charts I feel demonstrates the inter-connection of each part working together in effective leadership. In a complex adaptive system the leader is affected by many different things but all these things can affect the overall results. This is how the medicine wheel works as all things are connected. Below is an example of a Medicine wheel.
The chart above by Riggo (2014) has 4 divisions which include intellectual stimulation, inspirational stimulation, individualized consideration and idealized influence. When reviewing the chart I began to see many similarities between it and the medicine wheel. I use the medicine wheel often in my teaching to help ground my students so both representations of leadership help to instill an understanding that if one is to lead they must be connected to those that follow. One step cannot be totally effective without being bond in someway to the other elements.The chart flows in a clockwise direction which is significant in some First Nations cultures. The chart is also created in a circle to illustrate that all things are connected as one cannot exist without the other. The circle is part of healing, knowledge and understanding of the world that surrounds First Nations people. Another similarity to the medicine wheel is that the chart is divided into quadrants. In the medicine wheel each section represents a different direction and is symbolized by a colour. For example North is white (like the snow) East is yellow (like the sun rise ), south is red ( like heat and fire) and west is black (like the setting sun or night). This is the analogy I use to help explain the medicine wheel to my younger students. The four sections also represent the stages of life, the seasons, different aspects of life such as emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical. Each of the four parts also symbolize the 4 elements of nature which include, water, fire, air and earth. The animals such as bear and wolf are represented and finally traditional plants such as tobacco, sweet grass , sage and cedar. Riggo's (2014), chart representing transformational leadership also includes a holistic connectivity to each of the parts. He describes a leader as one who encourages personal growth which can inspire change and compassion for team members in the development of partnership as well as a respect for all.
To bring this learning to the 21st century student technology has afforded the learner with the tools to analysis and compare different forms of leadership in a cross cultural manner. In this case the comparison has been made between the transformational leadership model and the medicine wheel. Providing students with the digital tools to share their observations and thoughts helps to develop dialogue among others that are interested in the same topics.
The significance and connection of these two charts I feel demonstrates the inter-connection of each part working together in effective leadership. In a complex adaptive system the leader is affected by many different things but all these things can affect the overall results. This is how the medicine wheel works as all things are connected. Below is an example of a Medicine wheel.
image http://muskratmagazine.com/category/genre/muskrat-teachings/
Bullets - things to take away
* a visual and meaningful connection between the 4 dimensions of the transformational leadership model and the medicine wheel
* a visual and meaningful connection between the 4 dimensions of the transformational leadership model and the medicine wheel
References
Bass, B. M. & Steidlmeier, P. (1999). Ethics, character, and authentic transformational leadership character. The Leadership Quarterly.10(2). 181-217. dio: 10.1016/S1048-9843(99)00016-8
Riggo. R. E. (2014). The 4 elements of transformational leaders. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201411/the-4-elements-transformational-leaders
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