Bolt1105_discussion.asp

Jamie: A good start! I've been thinking about leadership all my life, too, and although I don't disagree with the things you've said, I still don't see the unifying vision. And I do stick to the notion that if you have all these characteristics, but do NOT accomplish anything, you're not a leader. Moreover, if you don't have these characteristics and DO accomplish something, you are. I would also say that leadership is a persistent generational obsession.

Nancy: Jamie is one of the leaders in Colorado who I respect the most for what he has accomplished in the Douglas County libraries. I take seriously his thoughts on a unifying vision and I’m looking for a way to express this. But first, I want to do some more reading and talking and challenging of my own thoughts. I also agree that results are critical to success, however, the key there is defining exactly what success means to the organization and articulating that vision. I would argue that leadership is an ongoing operation and that success needs to be redefined at regular intervals. What a leader sees as success one year may not seem so the next. I believe someone following this VICTORY model, will be successful more so over time. I have the same concern by his alternate concept: that if a person does accomplish “something” the that person is a leader. I would have to know what “something” is. Maybe this is part of the key to the “unifying vision” I want to express but have having trouble doing. I’ll think about that.

Bonnie McCune (Colorado State Library): You might consider another element, which probably fits into one of your existing categories. A leader inspires people, partly by making them believe that what they do is important and can make a difference.

LEADERSHIP