Comments on: Open Source Leadership

By: Mike Henry

Mike Henry — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:08:55 +0000

John, thanks for the comment. We are finding a large community of people who long for character-driven ethical, principled leadership. As you noted, they are passionate, high-caliber folks and I’m honored to get to hang with them. I’m glad you’re a part.

It’s fun and energizing to be a part of a community where people are contributing to the welfare of the whole on a particular subject, such as quality leadership. I think we’ll be seeing more and more of these as the hierarchical leadership model looses its luster.

By: John E. Smith

John E. Smith — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:14:45 +0000

Hi, Mike

I like the direction you are heading with this concept of a more “user-friendly” leadership model.

As I scanned the various comments on this, I was impressed by two things:

1) The caliber of the folks responding-you are attracting some very high-energy and thoughtful folks to this issue. I firmly believe that the value of something can be determined generally by looking at who is connected to it.

2) Your responding to each and every person. This personal touch style of leadership is underrated, not often practiced especially in the larger corporations, but costs nothing more than a few minutes of our time.

As for the larger issue of open-source leadership, I say “why not?” We have been talking for some years about moving away from the model of leadership as connected to a specific role or title and have increasingly focused on leadership as something that can and should be practiced at all levels by anyone who takes the iniative to do so.

I look forward to the next steps in this venture.

John
.-= John E. Smith´s last blog ..Stepping Out Into Nothing . . . =-.

By: Mike Henry

Mike Henry — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:32:42 +0000

Thanks for the comment Francisco. I appreciate connecting on Twitter and LinkedIn. As long as we all keep sharing and cooperating with one another we’ll make a difference.

By: Francisco Sáez

Francisco Sáez — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:33:22 +0000

I think there is an obviuos parallelism in the Open Source Development structure and this Lead Change Group (and other community-based groups), where everyone can contribute with her/his experience to develop a new model of business leadership application. I agree with you current models are a little obsolete in most cases. We can change it with ideas, work and results.

This is a very interesting point, Mike. Thanks for this post.

By: Mike Henry

Mike Henry — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:47:56 +0000

Roy, thanks for the comment. As you and I have experienced, there is a lot of interest in meaningful relationships and community these days. It will be terrific to see how this develops.

By: Roy Atkinson

Roy Atkinson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:07:29 +0000

Mike,
There is definitely something brewing. There are parallel discussions going on in other venues as well—conversations that revolve around community effort to shape something new in the way business (in both the narrow and broad senses) is done.

It will be terrific to see how this develops. Thanks for stimulating it and expressing it so well.
.-= Roy Atkinson´s last blog ..Customer Service Week: Celebrating Your Best =-.

By: Mike Henry

Mike Henry — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:47:30 +0000

Thanks Erin for the great comment. I appreciate the energy you bring to the effort. Isn’t this fun?

By: Mike Henry

Mike Henry — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:46:44 +0000

Perry,
Thanks for the link and the reference to the “communities of practice.” Hopefully there will be more and more of them.

Thanks too for joining the LinkedIn group.

By: Erin Schreyer

Erin Schreyer — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:51:18 +0000

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, Mike!! Way to start a flame…and then put the onus on the larger group to turn it into a fire!! This is a CALL, and leaders who hear the calling should engage! We CAN make a difference, but only if we want to adn only if we put a real effort toward making it happen. What a great start you’ve given us, Mike. Can’t wait for LEADERPALOOZA…and so, the revolution begins…

By: perry maughmer

perry maughmer — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:51:01 +0000

Mike,
I think what you may be talking about is actually a “community of practice”? The concept developed by Etienne Wegner (http://www.ewenger.com/) that he defines as “Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.”
This would be engaging for the linkedin group and can take different “shapes” depending on the needs of those in the community.
Great thought provoking post!
.-= perry maughmer´s last blog ..Connecting the dots =-.