The main leadership points and theories reflected in Wheatley’s observation show that people are inspired through rewards and fears and that internal motivators like generosity and compassion are not discounted. Wheatley’s observation of new business reality raises some key concerns about leadership and, through an understanding of the real world, questions people have to learn to deal with chaos (Wheatley, 2006). Further, in the real world, leaders must realize that employees need motivation and that adapting to new behaviors and strategies is critical in ensuring success in performance. The mistake coined by western thought is the belief that people, organizations, and the world are machines and must work consistently to achieve results. The fundamental building blocks in the real world are human relationships, which are not fixed identities, and through them, people have bundles of potential that enable them to self-organize (Wheatley, 2006). Self-organization is critical in business since it leads to adaptive systems, outcomes, and surprising new capacities and strengths. However, due to paradigm blindness, it becomes challenging for leaders to see information that disconfirms or threatens the machine world associated with western thought.
From a personal standpoint, Wheatley’s observations are reflected in how I relate with my workmates. For example, solutions come easily when team members are questioned to bring their best opinions forward without being pressured about the associated outcomes. Such brainstorming allows people to concentrate on the immediate issues at hand and devise strategies that best match the situation without following the established decision-making protocols. Another example of Wheatley’s leadership example in my workplace is when team members understand their responsibilities and work purposefully to achieve their tasks. The desire to achieve results manifests from the belief that performance does not rely on chains of command but on the desire to get things done.
Reference
Wheatley, J., M. (2006). Leadership Lessons from the Real World. Margaretwheatley.com. Web.