Introduction
I have been doing some reflection on the idea of followership, management, leadership, and becoming a social change agent. As a professor of leadership with over 10 years of experience in the classroom, I have come to the conclusion that metaphors and stories are the most effective teaching and learning tools that we have access to. Over the years, I have used many different metaphors to capture the spirit, essence, and logic of leadership as a tool and process for generating sustainable social change. In fact, I have learned that nothing clarifies and speaks like a good metaphor. The primary goal of this article is to frame the concepts of followership, management, leadership, and social change agency within a context that makes sense and can be transferred and applied on an individual level, but also within a teaching and learning environment.
A Metaphor: To Paint, or Not to Paint
Like any good metaphor, at first glance it is simple, but upon further investigation it is easily problematized or made complex. For a moment... let's think about painting. The art of painting will frame our metaphor. Our human levels of analysis and key connections through preference of painting are as follows:
• The Follower
- As a painter, the follower is most comfortable with sourcing, organizing, and maintaining the painting resources, supporting the artist, and making sure that both the gallery and studio are in order. In fact, Sivers (2010) suggests that the first follower is perhaps that most important ingredient to a movement or a cause. The first follower turns a lone nut into a leader.
• The Manager
- As a painter, the manager is most comfortable with paint-by-number and seeks to manage change, operationalize vision, and is process oriented. In this interpretation there is still room for creativity, but it is important that the correct pre-determined color is chosen, but some predetermined system or thinking and that the paint stays inside the lines.
• The Leader
- As a painter, the leader prefers a blank canvas and seeks to inspire transformation, determine and clarify vision, and develop people. In fact, the leader-painter enjoys the freedom and creativity to choose the type of paint being used, to mix colors of their own vision and need, and to orientate the landscape of their masterpiece all in ways that others can see themselves in.
• The Social Change Agent
- As a painter, the social change agent is markedly different than the others and relies on their ability to articulate a clear vision focused on uncharted territory, to ask informed and inspired questions, to work quietly with patience and persistence, to break free of established structures, systems, and processes, and to cross-disciplinary boundaries by connecting the seemingly disparate (Bornstein, 2003). In fact, many times the social change agent is not known for their paintings. They are known for creating new mediums and media.
Parting Thoughts
The most imperative thing to remember is that not one of these juxtapositions and descriptions are meant to be based on a position or title within an organization. For me, this metaphor is focused on the mindset of an individual when they are in the space whereby they are most comfortable. Depending upon the activity, goal, content, process, or field, each of us as individuals might fall into each of these different categories (follower, manager, leader, social change agent) according to our interest, skill, and passion. The real question each of us need to ask, specifically if we have never dabbled in the social change agent approach to art, is, "what do I care enough about, to do something about, in this world?" Once you figure this out, articulate your stance as a social change agent!
References
Bornstein, D. (2003).
How to change the world: Social entrepreneurs and the power of new ideas. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sivers, D. (2010).
How to start a movement. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement?language=en
Contact Dr. Lane Perry (lanegravesperry@gmail.com)
Remember, that the real question each of us needs to ask, specifically if we have never applied social change agency in our own lives, is what do you care enough about, to do something about, in this world?"
By Lane Perry
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