Hi David,  I am responding to your responsive post https://create.twu.ca/zportfolio/2018/10/12/response-to-np1-andrea/ where you responded to the original post of Andrea’s https://create.twu.ca/andreamarquis/2018/10/09/np1-post-leader/ .

Intellectual Humility

The discussion of intellecutal humility is an intriguing one for sure. You mention that “It allows for the wisdom of the group” (Z’s Porfilio, 2018). This reminds me of the passage from the Bible that states “Plans fail for lack of council but with many advisors they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22, ESV). Strong measures of wisdom, intellect, and humility are required to ensure that both the TSL and their followers benefit from intellectual humility.

You pose an interesting question where you wonder if TSL and intellectual humility can have the same level of practise and influence in the cultures of the Middle East and Asia. Not ever having visited or lived there leaves me without a specific frame of reference, but it clearly seems that if Greenleaf’s assertations of the basic tenets of TSL in Northouse (2018) are accurate then very little depends on the cultural situation. Wisdom and intellect are traits that know no cultural boundaries, and the ability to employ those traits in a humble fashion will leave the follower to feel valued, respected, and a healthy part of the process despite the country and culture this occurs in.

Andrea Marquis, in the blog post NP1 – Post Leader and from which our conversation is focused on, makes a very strong point regarding awareness as an important TSL principle. The ability for a TSL to understand their culture, the specific people within their organization, and the problem or opportunity at hand (basically the use of awareness) will allow them to lead the group to achieve more desirable outcomes then when unaware of these situations. Based on this, my answer to your question “Is it always possible to have a leaders as guide?” is yes!

 

References

Northouse, P.G., (2018). Leadership: Theory and practise. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Z’s Portfolio (2018). Response to NP1-Andrea Retrieved from https://create.twu.ca/zportfolio/2018/10/12/response-to-np1-andrea/