Why turn to psychology when we are only looking for successful teamwork and effective professional contributions? Because we are human working within human systems.

Shawn M. Nichols

A leader must acknowledge that members of a group become part of the collective leadership, playing in and out of a leading role as individuals with suggestions, complaints, and directing pivotal change within the group dialogue. This may change the role of the named leader into a follower or participant. Leaders are often determined by their family, financial power or acumen, with attendance at select schools that teach the mechanics of leadership. These people become the stewards of process often at the expense of reflection, intervention and paradigm change. Opposing forces are the individuals affected by the laws and cultural manipulations that become the change agents through and because of their lack of initiation into a proscribed atmosphere of “running the shop”.

Historically, students and initiates are the force for shaking status quo management’s strong beliefs. While there exists an incipient level of arrogance in that student group also, the dialogue is usually well informed and fresh. Their arguments and proposals can force reflection into a management.

It is because of the mutating role of a leader within a process group that one must rethink the traditional positivistic methods of leadership. One must start to think of leadership as an umbrella concept containing elements of any good societal or cultural process and system.

Shawn Nichols, MA, CC
doctoral student

shawnnichols.com

Leadership involves a philosophical perspective that has our own purpose and meaning as fundamental structures. We use our ideas of leadership in combination with our own specific beliefs and ideals to become a leader. This personal involvement has an impact on those around us. When a change-perspective occurs on a collective scale, a huge step for community, company and nation is taken.

As these are unique characteristics among humans the definitions of leadership are difficult to study and set to paper, as clarity and bias effect the entire enterprise. Some believe that charisma is important as one of the leader qualities. This charisma, of thought, word, and appearance may induce others to follow as the group begins to form and mobilize. The individuals have combined to become one group, on its own a sub group of a company or community. While positive charismatic features are an individual perception, some common beliefs about a good leader are; they have or are able to explain a vision based on a social construction, can maintain a fluid and flexible thought process, are open to change within the process regarding goals, and that they are moral and able to enforce a series of rules, even unspoken, that keep all the members safe.

Leaders may have to understand other’s expectations of them as important elements of their roles. We are drawn to rules and hierarchies as they allow change to take place in an orderly and safe process; but we do so more readily when thoughtful and guiding individuals attend to our needs and us.

Shawn Nichols, MA, CC
shawnnichols.com

Google Images, 2011

Points of conflict can be points of great learning. Usually one regards these disagreements as problems in the pursuit of the  fastest solution with smallest risk. Often these solutions are short-term fixes.

Shawn Nichols, MA, CC

shawnnichols.com

Transformative learning is the transformation of existing and currently held personal information and knowledge that can be examined by stating current beliefs, often with a sharing group. Once we acknowledge this information we start the process by  evaluating, refining and considering points of view, based on this new awareness. An open mind and the desire to have new experiences allow us to develop new habits of reflection, practice and relevance.

New habits and foundational thoughts are created by a move from egocentric perspective to ethnocentric perspectives, allowing one to inhabit another view and making these new views part of one’s new belief system. My group clients are speaking of their own lives, perhaps defending their views and actions. Within the group, other individuals are appraising these statements and weighing and comparing them to their own behaviors. Some ideas will be rejected, but the successful group will have each one bravely offering their beliefs and motives up for scrutiny and comparison. In the successful group, clients will begin to acknowledge others similarities and differences. Some of the individuals will be left changed and considering a new concept or solution between groups weekly meetings. Within session and after, members of the group will continue to evolve, articulate and reconstruct matters of behavior and belief, bringing them back to group for further discussion.

Shawn Nichols, MA, CC

shawnnichols.com

Google Images, 2011

By observing the individuals, one views the assigned leader’s possibilities and shortcomings. As I raise my hand or add some insight to the change system underway, I effectively become part of the leadership. By observing and considering the management groups, one part of the organization’s collective, one begins to see leadership potential, strengths, and necessity. Within these groups of potential leaders, one or more at a time may take the leader’s role but that does not mean the leadership has been overrun.

Shawn Nichols, MS, CC

shawnnichols.com

Shawn Nichols, MA, CC.

shawnnichols.com

Googel Images, 2011

Senge, P. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. New

York, NY: Doubleday Press.

Shawn Nichols, MA, CC.

shawnnichols.com

What’s happening to my world? I grew up playing on the street, knowing every adult was my friend and could be relied on in times of childhood trouble. My parents made little, we ate well enough and clothes got passed around from cousin to sibling and back. No, my childhood was not a lovely dream. My childhood was filled with abuse and fear, but also love and friendship.

I have started to return to those times in a way that makes sense for me. No more new cars because that’s what my self esteem demands. I won’t shop because it’s on sale. The financial crisis has taken care of that for many of us. A new understanding of psychology has given me the names and terms for conditions I could not have explained earlier. But I know one thing: before life got complicated it wasn’t always easy and yes, I felt dread from time to time. But I ‘fixed’ my problems by emotional grounding, crying to reduce anxiety and asking others for help and assurance. I relied on my connections and tried to work through problems instead of dropping people and situations that were uncomfortable. I want to go back in time.

I will connect more in meaningful ways. I will smile more and praise others more often. Passing in the sidewalk, I will acknowledge others – even if they think I’m crazy.

Shawn M.Nichols, MA, CC

Mindful learning that creates great life changes is being open to other new beliefs and perspectives, as well as the ability to explore new information but not getting stuck in one’s own preexisting mindsets. The clients in my groups, were able to reflect more deeply upon their own lives and the consequences of their choices. Being able to compare their lot with others, they were presented with new information. Other clients in similar situations offered new and tantalizing information. This sharing was the first stage in reflection and as they became less defended in their choices and behaviors were able to look at new concepts offered by me and other facilitators who might have appeared as very dissimilar in personality or goals.

Shawn Nichols MA, CC

shawnnichols.com

Google Images 2011