Leading Leaders

Each week I read articles that touch on major issues that affect businesses, such as economic trends and political changes. This week I chose to read Peter Senge's commentary on corporate leadership and the role that businesses play in world citizenship. While in my past readings I have found that Senge and his colleagues tend to focus on relational issues within individual organizations, I find this article in The Journal of Corporate Citizenship compelling because it deals with the impact that organizations as a whole play when taking a stand on crucial world issues.

Senge remarks that there are several roles a business can play in regard to issues that effect the future. First, they must take a stand on particular issues and lead by their actions on those issues. Next, they can work in partnership with other large organizations to accomplish change in market conditions. These types of cooperative alliances accomplish much more than one business working alone.

Similar to the lessons we learn in Senge’s The Fifth Discipline, corporate leadership depends on the ability of individuals to learn new methods of doing business – much as the lifespan of an organization depends on the willingness of its individuals to participate in a learning organization system.

In her article titled “The Johnny Appleseeds of organizational change”, Karlene Karfoot explains that Senge’s new executive leader is one “that builds an operating environment by articulating guiding ideas, and building an infrastructure for continual learning.” Organizations that embrace this ideology will no doubt be at the forefront of the corporate citizenship movement.

In this new age of cooperative learning, leadership is no longer one executive running his company as he sees fit. Leaders must now work together to make a difference, educate consumers and do their part to shape the future. (Senge, 2007)

I find it interesting that more businesses have not taken on this type of role before. Perhaps as more business owners and executives become aware of the importance of their works and the many ways in which they can influence each other as well as consumers, they will begin to act with more responsibility. It is also important that the companies that embrace these types of global leadership roles groom leaders within their ranks by encouraging a culture of constant learning and commitment to personal growth.

Kerfoot, K. (Sept-Oct 2005). The Johnny Appleseeds of organizational change. Nursing

Economics, 23, 5. p.271(3). Retrieved November 11, 2007, from General OneFile via Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com.libproxy.chapman.edu:2048/itx/start.do?prodId=ITOF

Senge, P. M. (2006). The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization (2nd ed.). New York: Doubleday .

Senge, P M (Summer 2007). Waking the sleeping giant: business as an agent for

consumer understanding and responsible choice.(Commentary). [Electronic Version] The Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 26. p.25(3). Retrieved November 11, 2007, from General OneFile via Gale: http://find.galegroup.com.libproxy.chapman.edu:2048/itx/start.do?prodId=ITOF