Community Elements

To say that leadership is community building invites the question of what we should understand 'community' to be; that is, what the concept means in this context.

First, let me clarify that it is the psychological sense of community I am focusing on and not the geographic place, which may or may not feature a sense of community among residents.

Second, as the iBC website makes clear, the definition of psychological sense of community that is most viable generally and most relevant to discussions of leadership in particular is the one based on our many years of research, development, and test in collaboration with the late John W. Gardner. That definition breaks down the community concept into 11 elements:

Shared Vision
Shared Values
Shared Purpose

Trust
Respect
Caring
Recognition

Communication
Participation
Teamwork
Incorporation of Diversity

It is the building of these 11 elements within groups (or "communities") that I believe best describes the work of actual and aspiring leaders.

The Purpose of This BLOG

Leadership IS community building--no more, no less.
For that reason, the purpose of this BLOG is to promote thought and discussion about community-building strategies and about the factors that encourage or inhibit their use. We will welcome all questions, comments, and ideas, and we will endeavor to provide examples rooted in current events and in history to make clear how one may lead effectively.

Importantly, it is a tenet of this forum that leaders are made and not born; in fact, they can and typically do "make" themselves. We can assist and help guide this process, so feel free to share particular examples or cases, and we will respond.