essay 2b

Read “Pillar VI” in the Sipe & Frick book regarding the “Systems Thinker.” Like the previous Pillar (“Foresight”), this is a challenging concept. Systems thinking, as the authors discuss it, is the ability to see problems in their wider contexts and look for underlying patterns in an organization and even more widely than that. A systems thinker must be comfortable with complexity, demonstrate adaptability, and consider the greater good, while simultaneously understanding that deep-seated organizational beliefs drive the culture, which in turn drives strategy. Others might “easily overlook” beliefs and culture, but they “offer the best opportunity for sustained change.” Re-read closely the section on “Demonstrating Adaptability,” pp. 141-151, and consider the following hypothetical scenario: Rudy is the owner of a 60-employee company that produces custom-made furniture. Rudy inherited the company from his father 20 years ago. He knows all of his employees and their families. Some workers have been with the company for over 40 years and watched Rudy grow up! In the last couple years, Rudy has realized that newer machinery would be needed in order to keep up with increased demand. Furniture would still be made to order, but the process would be faster. But, Rudy worries that some employees might not be able to make the transition to the new machinery and process and that accidents and problems with learning the new processes might be greater than any possible gains. He suspects that many workers would wonder if they would even be able to keep their jobs. Assume Rudy has, as the HEB president said, a “servant’s heart.” Rudy indeed tries to exemplify servant leadership. Now, relying upon and stating relevant explanations in the Demonstrating Adaptability section, discuss the process Rudy would utilize specifically in championing this possible change. Second Paragraph Read “Pillar VII” in the Sipe & Frick book regarding “Moral Authority.” Moral Authority is the soul of servant leadership. Early in the book, you read that some people have a hard time with the concept of servant leadership because it sounds weak or wishy-washy, but after reading the previous pillars and especially Pillar VII, you probably have observed that servant leadership is a philosophy that demands moral courage and the ability to trust others. In this paragraph, discuss in your own words, any two of the three core competencies listed on p. 155 and discussed in this pillar. Be sure to identify each core competency you are explaining. What does each competency truly mean? What does it not mean? Illustrate each core competency in action with an example of your own creation (i.e., not an example provided in the book) of a person exhibiting that core competency as a servant leader in an organizational/work situation.