Empowering a Flattened Hierarchy -The Road to Awesome
Leadership Redefined Podcast
Richard Bernato Ed.D
Anthony Annunziato Ed.D.
Al Pisano Ed.D.
www.leadershipredefined.education
La Loux’s 2016 book Reinventing Organizations, traces a history of the evolution of organizations from caveman to current. He helps us see how the structure of organizations has developed with the sophistication (so-called), of civilization’s adaptation to the economic, demographic, and intellectual complexity of society across time. By current, he speaks to an as yet maturing level that is best typified by a flattening of hierarchy.
La Loux certainly doesn’t call for elimination of leaders as we plow through a twenty first century whose challenges daunt leaders of all stripes and styles. Rather, he identifies how today’s informed leaders can help school organizations lead from new perspectives.
His thinking influences organizations to realize they are best served by leaders who seek to empower others to share responsibility and initiative in order to shape common purpose that is coalesced by best intent.
Superintendent Darrin M. Peppard’s book, The Road to Awesome, certainly captures and exemplifies, among other related themes, what La Loux has substantiated. Peppard shows new paths to “awesome.”
Dr. Peppard’s participation on this week’s, Leadership Redefined podcast was a valuable contribution towards recognizing how current school leaders, indeed leaders of any organization, must embody principles of; co-empowerment and commitment to deeply purposed shared vision. Perhaps most importantly, he clearly shows the importance of a highly developed sensitivity to, and awareness of, the basic assumptions and beliefs that characterize the organization’s cultural underpinnings. Culture is key.
A disposition set dedicated to promoting a positive rather than a deficit model for cultural practices and beliefs he eloquently explains, is the key element to initiating and sustaining a culture that serves these ends.
La Loux, Frederic. 2016. Reinventing Organizations. Nelson Parker
Peppard, Darren M. and Aspinall, Brian. 2020. Road to Awesome: Empower, Lead, Change the Game. Codebreaker Inc.
