Author and CEO B. Stewart has spent many years studying the science behind leadership and connectedness and has developed a unique perspective of our social tendencies. As he furthered his knowledge of the human brain, he began to realize that there are some areas that all perspectives have in common. Our view of the world is shaped by experience and we develop a lens through which we see and interpret incoming information. In order to become a true leader, one must understand the various lenses or paradigms that occupy an organization and then use those differences to leverage diversity. A great example of this model is a symphony. The conductor must utilize the different sounds and feelings of the various parts of the symphony in order to produce a powerful sound that is well received by the audience. If the conductor favors one part of the symphony, the sound will lose intricacy and become bland, only welcomed by those who like that tune. However, when all parts are combined and each has a chance to make their presence felt, the overall product is greatly enhanced.
As he states in his new book titled Cultural Leadership: The New Chemistry of Leading Differently, “Globalization is shifting the tectonic plates of politics, economics, and sociology. Today, in order to lead with an authoritative voice, one must first understand the voices, hearts, and minds of those listening. One must have a firm estimate on the most likely response to a leader’s words. In essence, one must possess a perspective on perspective.” This focus on the individuals being lead, rather than the leader, contradicts top-down leadership and replaces it with a more encompassing and collective form of leadership.
He adds, “This master perspective not only elongates influence in a localized sense, but creates a transportable, mobile chemistry that is invaluable, with immeasurable potential. The new cultural leader has the ability to spontaneously adjust, truncate and revise language. This skill is cultivated on purpose. This cultivation is birthed out of an intentional desire to understand multiple cultures, long before the need to connect arises.” As you can see, a heavy emphasis is placed on empathy and understanding, two of the most affective ways of uniting a group. Study these principals and more by reading the Introduction and First Chapter of this new must-have leadership guide.
