In the give and take of organizational life we often find opportunities to test our ideas, reflect on experiences, and learn from our successes and failures. An effective organization is one in which people can lead from any place within it, according to leadership author and educator Warren Bennis. By alignment, he means a common vision and goals that inspire people to commit to the organization's purpose. His test for empowerment means that everyone has meaningful work and the ability to contribute to the organization's success. In the past three years, my colleagues in The Learning Commons and I have explored this theme in workshops with numerous individuals and diverse media arts and community television organizations around the country.
Actions do speak louder than words.
That includes actions such as taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from our failures as well as our successes. As leaders we model our values through both words and actions. A key function of leadership is to generate and sustain trust. Trust is the social glue that binds people together and makes collective action possible. As leaders we help people envision and enact shared visions, including recognizing and celebrating milestones along the path.