I Don’t Need A Pantsuit Afterall
“DIY Hanging Copper Hat Rack” by apairandaspare is licensed under CC BY 2.0
After reflecting and contemplating the knowledge given to me regarding leadership and change theory in this latest course, I have decided maybe a hat rack instead of a pantsuit would be a more useful tool as a leader. While the notion of the pantsuit was just a silly stereotype from a patriarchal time that I hope is passing, the hat rack is a metaphor for all the roles a good leader must portray. Think about it; Conway et al. (2017) say innovators “…must mimic the habits of entrepreneurs” (p. 14). At the same time, Weiner (2009) emphasizes the importance of a leader’s effective interpersonal skills. Then there is James O’Toole, who has us hanging our hat on values as a way to lead (2008). O’Toole (2008) explains, “values-based leaders create followers by enabling them to see clearly, and to achieve effectively, that which they hold dear” (p. 7). There are, of course, many more hats I could define us wearing as leaders. The point is the true knack is knowing which hat to don for each given leadership task. I looked in my closet just today, and while I still do not own a pantsuit, I think I may have gained a hat or two over the last nine weeks.
References
Weiner, B. J. (2009). A theory of organizational readiness for change. Implementation Science, 4(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-4-67
Conway, R., Masters, J., & Thorold, J., (2017). From design thinking to systems change: How to invest in innovation for social impact. Royal Society of Arts, Action and Research Centre.
O’Toole, James (2008). Notes Toward a Definition of Values-Based Leadership. The Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 1(1).
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