THE ARC OF PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP

Abstract

AbstractThe author, the dean of the School of Business at the University of Redlands, in California, writes about integrating various concepts and approaches to leadership into a broad framework that can guide teaching, research, and consultations. This has led to the “Arc of Purposeful Leadership,” ranging from self‐management to team management to organizational strategy to societal responsibilities. The author explains that the arc represents levels that identify purpose from self to teams to organization to society. Within Self, the focus is on four domains: character, competence, commitment, and compassion. Next, connecting teams to the clear purpose of an organization is a core strategy to achieve high performance from empowered stakeholders. The next level is defined by the themes of clear mission/strategy, alignment of strength and resources, performance‐driven change management, and a supportive culture. Finally, the societal dimension of the Arc encompasses community engagement and philanthropy. The author points out that leadership comes from every corner and every function of the organization—whether in middle management, an individual contributor, or even at the most entry level. No matter the level of status, every employee can play a vital role in shaping and fulfilling the purpose of the organization.