Ch.9: Effective Leadership Habits (Habits of Mind)

The qualities and attributes of a good leader has been the subject of study since the Roman Empire. Some believe that good leaders were those that could speak well before a crowd of people and captivate the audience, others believe leaders are those with appealing physical characteristics or athleticism, while some leaders can influence and motivate others through their reputation as a strong leader or a dictator. All these different examples show how leadership can be influential in some capacity. While some would argue that there are some forms of leadership that are better than others, I find that I identify with the “Habits of Mind” as an effective style of leadership. “Habits of Mind are patterned ways of thinking that define how a person approaches issues and conceives alternative ways of resolving or dealing with them.”(281) In other words, I believe this style involves thinking outside the box and being flexible.

Habits of Mind style leadership require operating outside your comfort zone, involving others in decision making, and caring for the needs of the individuals in the organization as well as the vision and mission of the organization. This type of leadership forces a leader to stay proactive in the leadership process and not become stagnant or too comfortable in their ways. Habits of Mind offer three different “aspects of knowledge to being a good leader,” sensing, presencing, and realizing. I particularly like the aspect of “realizing,” because it requires a good leader to “get off the dance floor and watch the show from the balcony above.” (Harvard Business Review-Leadership). A leader that practices “realization” can detach themselves enough from a situation their involved in to look globally and inward in order to make a good decision. Being able to reflect and look outward at a situation allows for clarity, reduction in rash decision making, and creative input. I find that stopping occasionally to reflect on a situation and looking inward has helped me to make better decisions at work. It is easy to overact or make quick decisions without looking at the entire picture, but this isn’t always the best was to handle problems.