Perspectives

Practicing Democracy by Sharing Leadership

Organizations are usually structured top-down, typically starting with president, vice-pres, secretary & treasurer. A lot of people prefer things that way: a strong leader, to be followed. People rise to the top and call the shots. Works with business, government, schools ( or not ) And all the while extolling democracy…

So when the moderator offers to share the management, I suggest we- whoever and wherever possible- should step up. For me, direct involvement means an investment; no involvement puts me in the audience, to come and go as I please, with no thread of connection. So it follows that each person in a group should be invited to take a turn as moderator.

Management includes both gopher work and more visible leadership, such as agenda setting and meeting directorship. Over years of school staff meetings- quintessentially top-down- I came to realize that when one person sets and administers the agenda, that any conversation will become attenuated, and outcomes will be predictable.

Certainly the more articulate, more experienced, more outgoing will volunteer first. Nothing wrong with that; except for the forgotten ones, the passive attendees- relegated to the audience once again.

Inviting agenda items opens options, as does rotating moderators.

The Leadership Trap

Green party politics are plagued by leadership problems

Further thoughts...