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Ducks In A Row: Composted Leadership

by Miki Saxon

Continuing with more thoughts on yesterday’s post Leadership Is Fertilizer.

Fertilizer is produced in a lab with scientists controlling which chemicals in what amount are used and then mass produce that particular formula in a factory.

Anyone who gardens knows that there are a multitude of brands that produce different fertilizers, some considered “general purpose,” but most with specific formulas to accomplish specific goals, including forcing growth.

Experts say compost is a better choice.

Compost is natural, produced when multiple kinds of organic matter are brought together and left to decompose with the aid of a variety of organisms. The result is an incredibly rich material that produces sustainable results without damaging the environment.

Leadership is similar.

You have the kind that is produced in colleges and MBA programs, learned in a sterile environment, with ingredients that parallel the thinking of selected experts’ mindsets and attitudes. Thus, the student is indoctrinated in a set of specifics and is often prejudiced against anything that falls outside those boundaries.

Leadership learned through doing—taking the initiative and accepting the risk of failure—is different. It combines a variety of experiences, good, bad and indifferent and adds a variety of organisms in the form of the varied humans that populate the organization. The effect of those organisms on the experiences of individual initiative produces a deeper, richer, more flexible form of leadership.

Chemical fertilizer needs to be applied again and again as it wears out.

Compost mixes with and enriches the soil itself, so that the more you add the better the growth medium.

In which do you want to plant your people?

Your comments—priceless

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Image credit: ZedBee|Zoë Power on flickr

6 Responses to “Ducks In A Row: Composted Leadership”
  1. Everything Counts Says:

    Great post. I really appreciate and agree with your words. Thanks for sharing such beautiful thoughts.

  2. Miki Saxon Says:

    You’re welcome. Now if companies (and individuals) just started composting…

    Thanks for stopping by:)

  3. Integrating information | Managing Leadership Says:

    […] see Miki Saxon’s deftly described depiction of leadership here, and especially here, for one side of the debate. But please also view Becky Robinson’s robust defense of the other […]

  4. Becky Robinson Says:

    Hi Miki —
    I hope you’ll come join the conversation at my post that references/quotes this one. It’s lively!
    http://mountainstate.typepad.com/leadership/2009/08/organic-leadership-development.html

  5. Karen Wright Says:

    I love the compost metaphor, and will share widely, particularly with those who attempt to guide leaders from an academic perspective without the necessary personal experience in the mix. Nice one!

  6. Miki Saxon Says:

    Thanks, Karen. Please be sure to also share the previous and Friday post regarding fertilizer. It makes more sense that way and can’t be twisted as easily.

    Thanks for stopping by and adding your thoughts!

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