Social Leadership - Observation and Action

Captain’s Log - Issue #149

There is a consideration in our leadership as to our stance on equality and inclusion: the degree to which we actively campaign, or tacitly support, to which we take action, or simply try to do no harm.

Social Leadership occurs at the intersection of systems: between formal and tribal voices, between hierarchy and community, between self and system. The choices we face often lie at this intersection: as we observe, as we experience, as we hear and share stories.

One way to lead is to patrol: to keep a careful eye on our context and take action as needed, when things go wrong. Another way is to set out to improve: to improve both ourselves and our systems of culture, structure, and organisation.

This is the act of the farmer, tending to the land. To recognise that the crops grow from the healthy soil, and that our job is not to ‘grow’, but to tend, to care, to nurture.

So an act of Social Leadership will be to create a space for a conversation, to look for where the shadows lie, to ask people about the voices they hold, and the places where they have none. An act of Social Leadership is to speak up and out, to represent, but also with humility to question, and to listen. To recognise that sometimes the action we take is held in silence as we simply hear what others need to be heard.

As i’ve shared before, this work on Social Leadership is about imperfection: it’s about balance, graceful action, and a close connection to our community. It’s not a stacked capability, learnt from a book, added up in certificates and programmes, but rather a matter of practice and our engagement within it.

Engines of Engagement

The manuscript for my next book, ‘Engines of Engagement - a curious book about Generative AI’ is largely complete, and currently being proof read. I have six illustrations still to complete, as well as the cover design.

With a bit of luck - and some hard work from everyone involved in production - it will be out before Christmas. The first review readers have provided feedback, and i’m excited to get it out into the world.

This week i’m working on plans for the audiobook version - which will actually be my first audiobook. More on this soon.

Social Leadership Daily

If you are interested in building Social Leadership into your daily practice, you may enjoy my work shared each day on Social Leadership Daily - sixty seconds with a question or activity to embed Social Leadership into your daily work.

I hope you’ve had a great week, with best wishes

Julian