Leaders

Man's earliest writings center on leaders. In the 21st Century we are still fascinated with studying them. Man, as follower, has been inextricably linked to the leader since the dawn of time. Perhaps initially as a survival technique, man is now "wired" to identify with and to "follow the leader." There has been since the earliest explorations general discussions of qualities, characteristics, personality, and behaviors of the leader. Leadership often is explored within the context of...
More Description

Man's earliest writings center on leaders. In the 21st Century we are still fascinated with studying them. Man, as follower, has been inextricably linked to the leader since the dawn of time. Perhaps initially as a survival technique, man is now "wired" to identify with and to "follow the leader." There has been since the earliest explorations general discussions of qualities, characteristics, personality, and behaviors of the leader. Leadership often is explored within the context of power, politics, policies, and practices. Many have read about what "makes" a leader, and have been exposed to the debate "are leaders born or made?" These are certainly valuable inquiries. However, my work here in Leaders goes beyond typical books on the subject, taking a closer look at the underlying science of development and action. Perhaps risking the initial view that this topic is of only general (or, too-abstract) interest, I suggest that the work here has practical significance. All outward manifestations of the "leader" have at their foundation the complex, non-linear, dynamic brain system. Practitioners may be wary of delving into brain physiology, neuro-network alignment, and cognitive patterns in designing leader development programs; however, in a physical and practical sense they cannot be separated. Leader development is brain development. As any biological organ, the brain can be developed: in the case presented here, for strengthened leaders.I first started thinking about the link between the undergirding working of leader brain physiology (and its outwardly manifest patterns of leadership) when studying for my PhD. Then, as now, I was interested in the complex, non-linear, dynamic system of the brain and how it gives rise to recurring patterns of intellectual behavior. How leaders "think" was prominent in my doctoral study. Recognizing that the existing outward manifest leader behavior is a function of inward patterns of brain activity, I also found interesting the notion that leader development does not have to be coarsely approached, but can be informed-customized for effect-by an understanding of and work with the observable patterns of intellectual behavior. Leader development does not have to be approached in a generic fashion, making gross assumptions. It can be designed.Relative to this link I found two authors whom probably never expected to be so "linked." First, Scott Kelso at Florida Atlantic University was my inspiration to push beyond infant physical behavior patterns as correlates of underlying cognitive patterns (thus, my doctoral work in measuring intellectual behavior). His book Dynamic Patterns: The Self-Organization of Brain and Behavior was instrumental to my thinking on the topic. Second, Howard Garner with his work on Leading Minds gave me insight into a vast array of "leader behaviors." Many of his leader stories reflected underlying causation that was explained by Kelso.Putting this book together has been, as they say, a labor of love. My professional interest and initial research centered on neurological alignment that gives rise to cognitive patterns, recognizable in recurring patterns of intellectual behavior. There was a decade of study and research in this area, the work of that period contributing to this book.I would ask the scholar to ponder the possibilities and expand on the work here. I would ask the practitioner to incorporate into leader development programs the concept and notions presented here, even if too early for specific intervention techniques.