In ancient occasions the totem pole was a symbolic expression of past generations. It provided information about a tribe’s identity–a sort of linear -understanding of generations that came before them and the leaders who showed them the way. It enforced group solidarity and offered a essential relational context to their lives.
The totem pole was worshiped and ritualized. The history of a complete tribe could be understood by this a single linear expression. Symbolic communication, as a group organizing method, is also discovered in law firms. Law firms proudly list their partners’ names on letterhead and post them on doorways. Usually some of the names are symbols of the past–a lasting recognition of these who came prior to as well as these who are at present carrying the torch of the firm’s traditions into the future. This symbolic communication portrays the history of a firm’s leader-ship and is an indicator of predicted overall performance. But what happens when the firm’s previous is forced to yield to the firm’s future? When it becomes required for the firm to reinvent itself and set out new organizing principles that match its vision–when the old belief program is no longer in sync with the desires and demands of changing markets and clients? Most firms are facing this challenge ideal now, and some are not even aware of it. The partners I spoke with clearly recognized the need to re-invent themselves or danger sacrificing development and prosperity.
Are You the Leader?
Who among you will lead the charge? This is a very personal selection that really should not be taken lightly. It will depend not only on your own willingness to take on the challenge, but also on the willingness of the important partners who make up most of the energy base at your firm.
If you are up for the challenge, accept this expertise and get on with major. If not, come across the particular person in your firm who is ready and able to lead and supply that person all the assistance you can. You will quickly comprehend that the good quality and commitment of your help for this individual will be recognized as an important form of leader-ship in its personal appropriate.
The Genetics of Leadership
It really is been mentioned that some people are born leaders. That may be true, but for most of us, leadership is an acquired skill that comes from our mind-set and our need to effect good modify. Similarly, persons are not born extraordinary. Instead, they select to accomplish extraordinary things.
As recently as 2003, scientists discovered that our all-natural traits are not “set in stone.” (See Matt Ridley’s Genome and Nature via Nurture.) Rather, our genetic code–especially the code accountable for our brain function–is neither unchanging nor unchangeable. As we respond to the challenges and stimuli in the world, so do our genes. Depending upon our requires and the degree of our determination, unique formulations of our genetic code are activated. This results in the emergence of a new pattern of genetic instructions. Contrary to what scientists formerly believed, our genes stay active, malleable and fluid all through our lives.
Till Litigation lawyers Bloemfontein had been made, the received wisdom was that the traits that enable us to assume like lawyers or strive for excellence or find the courage and charisma to lead had been handed out to us–or not–at birth. It was taken as fact that our neural makeup was mostly dictated by the genetic code we inherited from our parents. If we had been fortunate sufficient to have inherited “intelligent” genes, it was anticipated that we have been destined for greatness if the opposite happened, we had been destined to be the village idiot.
In reality, the reason so few of us break out of the mold is not due to genetics at all. It really is for the reason that of the truth that, strange as it may possibly sound, most of us surrender to our strengths rather than engage our weaknesses. If we tend to be naturally gifted in mathematics, we gravitate toward mathematics. If we show an early talent in the arts, we gravitate in that direction. It is simply easier to rely on our current strengths than it is to create new strengths from scratch.
Psychologist and theorist Carl Jung described this irony in his book Psychological Kinds:
“Experience shows that it is hardly probable for any-one particular to bring all his psychological functions to simultaneous improvement. The very circumstances of society enforce a man to apply himself 1st and foremost to the differentiation of that function with which he is either most gifted by nature, or which delivers his most powerful means for social good results. Incredibly regularly, indeed as a basic rule, a man identifies himself extra or less totally with the most favored, hence the most developed function.”
Because Jung’s time, even so, neuroscientists have discovered that the human tendency to stick to the path of least resistance is not merely ironic but counter-productive. We now know that the brain grows stronger, establishing at a a lot larger level, when we force ourselves to feel in new and unique ways.
Until now, you may possibly not have believed of yourself as a leader. But that is no reason to believe you can not develop into 1 if your motivation is powerful enough. The very first query to ask yourself is this: What does it mean to be a leader?
C Rijkheer Inc. T/A Jordaans Rijkheer Attorneys
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