Independence, Dependence, and Interdependence in Leadership
July 4th, 2009 Fireworks. Photo by Ada Gonzalez
Independence, Dependence, and Interdependence are three important words for leaders to consider. As I was watching the spectacular fireworks over Legislative Mall in Dover, Delaware on the 4th of July, I was thinking about the interplay of these three words and what do they mean in leadership.
Probably because English is not my native tongue, whenever I think about words, I tend to go first to the dictionary to get the “official” meaning of the words. Pulling together what different dictionaries and Wikipedia say, this is my take on the meaning of the words and what they mean for leadership. As with everything else each of these words has an upside and a downside, which we need to consider in leadership.
It would be impossible to ignore all the press about the possibility of Judge Sonia Sotomayor becoming a Supreme Court judge. I don’t want to go into the politics of this, or talk about the pros and cons of her nomination. Nevertheless, reading different viewpoints reminded me once more of why diversity enriches decision making.
In theory, Memorial Day is to honor the memories of those who sacrificed their lives in military service for our country. In practice, we typically celebrate this long weekend as the unofficial start of Summer and the beginning the bar-b-q season. Why is it important to remember and honor those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy our freedom?
The Creative Power of Dialogue and Collaboration. This past Saturday I visited Williamsburg, Virginia, the town that was home to some of the most important architects of the USA. Men like General Washington, Governor Jefferson, and Governor Henry. While walking the Colonial living history site, hearing the stories, and remembering the struggles of a small colonial community, I found myself meditating in the creative power of dialogue and collaboration.