Dear Organlearners,
Rol Fessenden <76234.3636@compuserve.com> writes:
> Whenever I read one of those business books about some organization that
> has succeeded beyond anyone's dreams, it is almost inevitably a story
> about a person who created the context. That is a component of leadership
> - -- creating the context -- that appears to be practiced by the
> owner-operator of the business, and in my experience, it is the most
> important task of leadership.
Rol, the etymology of the word "leadership" already creates the
context from which we can learn much what "leadership is about,
including what you have written, quoted above.
The suffix "-ship" has to do with a very important word in the old
Gothic language and its descendents like the old lowlandic languages
such as Franconian, Frisian, Saxon, Anglian and Old English.. The
root word is "schaeppen". Its meaning was "to create a thing of
value". For example, the first clay pots made for storing water and
food were given the name "schop" (or something sounding like that).
The (Old) English word "scoop" derives from this name. Likewise
shelters built to store claypots and other things of value were given
the name "schoppa". The English word "shop" derives from this name.
The tool used to built with, was called a "schoppe" from which we now
have the word "shovel". The tool was prepared from wood by a process
from which the modern words "shave" and "chafe" are derived. Likewise
the English word "shape" comes from the word "schappen" which meant
"to give form". Later when the first boats were created, they were
also given the name "schoope" from which we now have the names "ship"
and "skipper". The suffix "-schaep" was given to any job of creating
something of value. For example, "hertschaep" refered to someone who
guarded the herd, or "tunschaep" (township) for someone who serviced
the town (garden).
To make a long story short, the old Gothic word "schaeppen" had
a very rich meaning concerning everything which we will today
associate with the word "creativitiy". Although "creating context" is
important to creativity, creativity is much more than that, for
example, using the context to create. Whenever we can perceive
creativity in a human action, that perception may become qualified
with the suffix "-ship" as was done in the old times with "-schaep".
Thus, if we really want to know what leaderSHIP amounts to, we will
at least have to make sure what creativity amounts to.
Then Rick made the following comment:
> [Host's Note: So... The question seems to be what is the role, importance,
> and method of operation of leadership in a learning organization? In a
> learning organization, leadership would not be hierarchical, not
> support bureaucracy, and not be imposed unilaterally. So, what would it
> look like? ...Rick]
Rick, your comment refers specifically to a LO and not any
organisation. This sort of ambiguity in leadership (that the leader
of a LO is definitely different from leaders of non-learning
organisations) we also find in the etymology of the word "leader".
The old gothic word which we refer to, sounded something like
"laeden". Its original meaning was "to go forward or upward" and
refered to any constructive action for the benefit of the community.
For example, the modern words "ladder", "belay" and "leader" have
their roots in this word. In my own language Afrikaans we still have
some beautiful "descendants" of this word like "lei" (to
direct) and "leiding" (managing).
But once the Gothic peoples came into contact with the Roman forces
who subjected every human to the Caesar, their leaders were soon
burden with paying taxes and homage to the Caesar. Those who loved
freedom, were single out for persecution and sufferance.
Unfortunately, very little of this sad meaning of the word remained
after the transformation from old English to modern English. One word
which I can think of, is "load". Again, in my own language Afrikaans
many words refer to this sober and somber meaning. For example
"lyding" (suffering), "lydend" (passive), lydsaam "patient" en "lye"
(passion). [The "ly" and "lei" sounds axactly the same, almost like
the Engsih "lay".]
Unfortuantely, just as these sober and somber meanings have
disappeared from modern English, they have also disappeared from
the actions of most modern leaders. Show me the leaders who will lead
in suffering, patience and passion their followers when the course
gets rough.
Lastly, it is interesting to note that the word "follower" may derive
form the Gothic word which sounded something like "folden". That word
meant "to make complete or do fully". It is reflected Old English
words "folgian" and "don" from which we now have "follower" and "do".
The words "voldaan" (finished) and "voldoende" (enough) in my own
language reflects the meaning of "folden" beautifully. Anyway, among
the Gothic peoples the two words "laeden" and "folden" were
unseparable. A leader is one who leads (leaden) folds (folden) his
followers in loving care.
Best wishes
--At de Lange Gold Fields Computer Centre for Education University of Pretoria Pretoria, South Africa email: amdelange@gold.up.ac.za
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>