In the News -
February 2008
Principles of Leadership for the 21st Century
“The moral obligation of leadership is to think beyond
your experience and plan beyond your tenure.”
This quote by futurist Edward Barlow describes the challenge facing community
leaders today - what can we do now that will prepare our communities for
the 21st century, an era that is clearly beyond our experience? According to the
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, the following principles
have been very helpful to community leaders who seek to move their communities
forward:
Principle #1: Leaders anticipate change - they see the big picture.
As more and more communities are being impacted by forces beyond their
control, the importance of understanding what changes are taking place becomes
increasingly important. The global economy, sweeping technological change, new
economic-political alliances (such as NAFTA), and the growing diversity of our
work force are just a few of the major forces and trends that have real impacts
on our communities. Understanding these changes enable communities to take
advantage of these changes rather than becoming victims of them.
Principle #2: Leaders understand the interrelatedness of things.
This realization that everything affects everything else in communities has
led many communities to create strategic planning efforts that involve a broad
base of citizens. Your community may have terrific schools and economic
development opportunities, but if your health care or transportation systems are
inadequate, your community will not reach its full potential. This realization
leads us to deal with the most important issues facing our communities,
regardless of the personalities involved.
Principle #3: Leaders understand the development
process, and how to apply it to their own community.
Most communities either grow and develop, or begin to decline. The impact of
the major forces and trends mentioned earlier is so powerful that communities
need to be working to address important issues before those issues have negative
effects on the community. A very useful approach is to create a strategic vision
and action plan for your community. A strategic vision is a compelling mental
image of your desired future, and an action plan is how you can realize that
vision. For more information, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service
office for a copy of Harnessing the Power of Vision - Ten Steps to Creating a
Strategic Vision and Action Plan for Your Community.
Principle #4: Leaders, create, support, and foster effective development organizations.
Organizations are vehicles for development. They are mechanisms for people to
work together to achieve their goals. For community development efforts to be
successful, they require effective development organizations. These
organizations share a common vision, and are committed to bringing that vision
to reality.
Principle #5: Leaders have personal characteristics worthy of emulation.
We have asked community groups all across the state of Arkansas what
characteristics they value most in their leaders. Honesty and dependability
almost always come up at the top of the list. People are much more likely to
become involved in community development efforts if they trust the individuals
in leadership positions.
These principles provide a blueprint for community leaders as they seek to be
most effective.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
February 22, 2008
By: Dr. Mark Peterson
Extension Professor-Community Development
(501) 671-2253
mpeterson@uaex.edu
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
Related Links
|
