Alternative leadership
This particular reading was very interesting, specially because it is more relevant now than ever before. The world we live in is changing at a pace that is beyond imagination. The problems in the world are very different from the past and unique problems demand unusual solutions. Grint provides a thorough analysis of alternative leadership from a leader’s as well as the follower’s perspective. The chapters in the book focus on Martin Luther king and the interpretation of movement leadership.
What was most interesting was to look at leadership from the perspective of a skill. There have been skill theories describing leadership but this alternative approach is very intriguing and interesting. The idea that an organization is to be looked upon as a verb instead of a noun in itself is revolutionary. Not only is it away from the norm but is also very much viable and practical. The heirarchy is removed from the process of leadership and it is discussed as an active and skillful process. The final chapter talks about feminist and post modern approaches.
I am of the opinion that the complexity of leadership in an ever changing world with unpredictable problems is inevitably going to lead us to formulate leadership roles on an individualized basis. There is no one solution to a problem. No single theroy of leadership or approach there in is going to be able to provide practical solutions to impractical problems. Alternative leadership is one area that is going to be the mantra in the next century. It is my thinking that alternative leadership should not be defined or confined with boundaries. It should be allowed to flow and take shape according to requirements ; confining it with definitions will lead us to curb the creativity involved with the whole concept……..