Reference no: EM133437313

Question: Bennis describes the four main leadership qualities as 1) the ability to engage others in shared meaning, 2) having a distinctive and compelling voice, 3) having a sense of integrity and a strong sense of values, and 4) having adaptive capacity. Looking at the first leadership quality, the ability to engage others in a shared meaning, I immediately think of Sidney Harman and the obstacles he encountered that helped to end in a positive work environment. Upon changing his whole outlook and revamping the organization, his employees are now more engaged and participate in extracurriculars. He created an environment where dissent wasn't only tolerated but also encouraged. The next quality is having a distinctive and compelling voice. Looking back at Jack Coleman's situation, he had overheard a group of kids planning to take down the flag during the Vietnam war and burn it. He de-escalated matters by offering to take it down and wash it. The third quality is a sense of integrity and a strong sense of values which again points to Mr. Coleman as his values prevailed when the angry team of football players insisted on burning the flag. Lastly, having "adaptive capacity" or a sense of applied creativity. This helps leaders connect with their constituents.

Furthermore, these leadership qualities connect with Kolb's reflective frameworks in many ways. Each of these individuals had obstacles challenge their leadership abilities to the point some things needed to be totally revamped, such as the incident with Sidney Harman completely changing the work environment at his place of employment. Kolb's reflective framework, Focus to Abstract Conceptualization and Greater Complexity, is a great visualization of the thinking process in situations like described in Bennis' article. Beginning with the initial focal point, you begin to go through convergence and assimilation, and experiences and reflections bringing you to a more complex understanding of the complexity of the issue. Kolb's three phases of reflection and self also applies as the leaders gained a better understanding of themselves and their style of leadership. This especially applies to Sidney Rittenburg's case when China locked him away in solitary confinement for years. Here, he had amplitude of time to really gain a better understanding of himself and reflect on things.