Leadership and Change

I remembered that one of my English teacher mentioned that excellence means good habit, if you have good habit, you can accomplish everything you want. He always encourages us to develop good habit for studying English, like 50 new words per day, 1 essay per week, etc. If you continue to do these things, you can develop a good habit, also, you will realize that your ability of potential very well.

Same to the dressing style, leaders need to develop good habit in good way. I think it is one of leadership elements of leading your self in your own way. Our former prim minister Zhou Enlai used to have very strict rules for his face and dressing style. He continued his good habit everyday for several decades. That’s why he earned the handsome leader in China. It is not easy for average person to continue something over decade. If you can, I am sure you will be next famous leader.

Todd, I loved your analogy and find it to be true as well, though I don't always have the discipline to make it happen. If I "dress down" for a day it always seems that someone important shows up unexpectedly, or there's an issue that requires I meet with my supervisors. I know my self confidence always goes in the tank if this happens and I'm underdressed. You'd think I'd learn! I worked with an associate professor who was very laid back in general but on the days he taught he always wore a tie. He felt strongly that students listened better and had more respect for him when he was dressed that way.
Sarah Waldemar

Todd - you are Leaderman from my point of view. You always have thoughtful insights to our discussions.

Your comments about impressions being contextual are right on. In California no one would question Al Davis's attire. Here we have a different expectation. What I'd point out is that wearing non-contextual clothes can get in the way of our leadership goals sometimes, but can also serve as a way of making a specific point by being out of the ordinary. It's always situationally contextual.

S Dauner

A successful friend of mine once told me that if you are the best dressed person during a negotiation, you increase your chances of winning more. Does this represent an edge one should cultivate in a shared power world? A psychologist said that one of the first signs of depression is when a person lets their grooming and dress deteriorate.

Context is very important for me when choosing an outfit for a business meeting. If it is the first time, I always wear a well coordinated suit and tie. I consider this a respectful gesture, sort of the tradition of wearing 'Sunday Best' to church, temple or mosque as a sign of respect to god or at least the institution. Just as important, it is a the uniform of professionalism in business, law, accounting, academics, etc. I always wish to identify myself as part of a professional class of some sort, even if it is simple as a sales representative. Once I have established a professional relationship, I will shift my dress to reflect the culture who I am visiting. This is also respectful and shows an adaptive quality. I once visited a client in California where it was permissable to wear shorts on Friday. I showed up for my Friday meeting in shorts an was welcomed as one of the family.

I remember a Ronald Reagan campaign ad showing him wearing a plaid flannel shirt, clearing brush on his ranch. We were supposed to view him as a regular guy who could roll up his sleeves and go to work. He won two elections because he could adjust his image to appeal to a broad range of the electorate. We now observe Obama chuggin beer and H. Clinton slamming shots of brandy in working class bars across Indiana and Ohio. Dress is augmented with props that also indicate an identification with the voters they are wooing.

On the surface do appropriate trappings of dress and props mean that the person sporting them is a good leader or competent professional? But as signs of respect for another's values and culture, they will earn the attention of whoever one is trying to influence.

And as Kun says, if you are going to be a leader, you may as well be one that is not only looked up to, but pleasant to look at.

Todd, I so have enjoyed your humor and insights! Everyone else, Sarah, Scott, Kun, Mike have each a wonderful flavor they have added to the ongoing blog posts. I want to challenge the general assumption that one must "look the part". One thing I have learned from life experiences is not to judge a book by it's cover. Today when it comes to needing innovative leadership, I believe we must challenge the assumption that one must look the part.

Case in point, most recently on Sunday, I was at the May Day festival going on it's thirtieth year or something long like that, http://www.hobt.org/mayday, leading the way to innovative grass roots activism. With the use of puppets, theatrical performances, celebration, recognition, and ritual, they are exemplifying K & P's idea of chapter 12 to wonderfully creative extremes. The whole focus of the event empowers participants by delivering relevant information, stories, and networking, encouraging the leaders of tomorrow towards responsibility in becoming fully engaged in glorious splendor and diversity. This yearly event tackles the notion of connected consciousness and enlightenment towards making a world worth living- "the awakening of a species whose clumsy gropings would result in either destruction or the flowering of a great civilization" -Csikszentmihalyi

How can we judge who's a leader in that milieu of craziness? Not by first sight alone. This appreciation of innovation must be nurtured through conversation and relationship! This parade, the pageant following, and traversing the path round the lake to visit all the different food vendors from eco-coffee, to West Indian curries, to cheese curds, booths with every local indigenous peoples to extremist activist groups, and artists and live entertainment the most soul-filled participants and performers, 30,000 strong all represented in one spot. This event has truly become a watering hole, to reunite with friends not seen, or revel in community of choice, all groups diverse in appearances, yet united by common goals of peace and progress towards a sane and sustainable future. So many people are hugging and kissing each other in greeting with an echo of "Happy May day" cheerily bantered in the exchange everywhere you turn. How do you tell the leaders among them? By getting to know them. Not as efficient as the other leadership standard we have come to expect and acknowledge that colors our perspective and judgment, yet maybe more effective in the end result. Connection through networks and communities, relational power is so under rated in hierarchical circles. (Cherrey and Allen)

Yet, when the official leaders do show up, and the radical ones do every year in the parade, they aren't wearing May Day colors, but stick with the safe stuff of shorts, plaid shirts, and blue collar traditional fare and rely on banners to alert the audience to their station. They are walking with others in glorious colors, some wearing nothing but a barrel, or feathers, or a myriad of costume combinations. It's the best blend of power I have witnessed in a parade. Yet there is one group growing in influence for their innovative leadership and underground networking, off the radar of suspecting critical eyes that intrigues me most.

The collective group of bikers that grow in numbers yearly by increasing the display of their creative prowess, through the most unusual bicycle contraptions one must see to believe. Some are as high up in the air as twenty feet, some push a couch seating four people, others are bedecked with utilitarian features to aid in daily living and some pedaled by four people at once contain a tin shack big enough to hold a five piece band! They are an incredible sight to be seen! The drivers of these bicycles are even more to behold. Though mainly represented by under 30's, there is an abundance of children and the older generation too melts in with their interesting combinations of attire. Some would judge them as "grundgers" or "goths", but that would not be an accurate delineation. Would I dress like them? I couldn't because it isn't me, yet I admire their boldness and unique style. I am trying to figure out each year who is in charge? From what I have learned through the grapevine, no one is. (Crosby & Bryson) They hold anarchy to be the highest form of organizing and highly value innovation in beating the system. People are revered for their scavenging and do it yourself skills. They have a highly sophisticated system of communication that isn't advertised or marketed. Some hierarchical groups have begun to wonder and take note at this underground trend nation wide.

Yet, I will suggest that if the current hierarchical system we count on and take for granted ever crashes, best look to someone on an unusual bicycle despite their off-appearance, wild multicolored dreadlocks, leather, and vibrant tattoos. For they just might have the power to solve the problems you need immediate answers to survive. Better come with something to trade too, a skill or some supplies as your appearance might throw them off trusting your intentions of cooperation. Or maybe to suit the occasion, don a faux-hawk.

Hi everyone,

I couldn't help but comment here. I have lived this entire scenario. In my younger years living in the Boston area I spent my youth in Harvard Square with green Mohawk.

No one (my professors, employers etc) ever took me seriously and it was frustrating. One day some friends and I did a 'study'. We had one person wear a suit and tell the person at the 'T' (subway) that they left their wallet at home can he please ride for free. The attendant said sure, go ahead. Then another friend dressed 'down' did the same thing with the same attendant, he got a big no, sorry we don't do that.

Society has gotten a lot more accepting to the tattooed, multi-colored hair look but back in the 80's (dating myself now) it wasn't as accepted in 'business'. Over the years I was 'forced' to change in order to be accepted (or basically get a 'real' job) in a business environment. I have 'walked the walk' with what people expect. But, now it’s my artistic side that is frustrated by having had to conform.

All in all not to rattle on about my life what makes me smile is knowing deep inside my philosophies have not changed just my appearance that young 'punk-rocker' is still here but now I have 'credibility' in societal eyes. The big question is who won?

Have a great summer.
Irene