Question: Instructor’s Opening Post
The overarching course question is “how do the leader’s personal and social worlds interact?” We begin our inquiry by exploring our personal worldview and how our worldview shapes our view of the world, and how we act in it as a leader. Walsh and Middleton (1984) argue:
A world view is never merely a vision of life. It is always a vision for life as well. Indeed, a vision of life, or world view, that does not actually lead a person or people in a particular way of life is no world view at all. Our world view determines our values. It helps us interpret the world around us. It sorts out what is important from what is not, what is of highest value from what is least…
Why is being aware of one’s worldview as a leader important? One reason, is, as Roy Disney, observed “It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.”
What is a worldview? Sire (2009) argues,
A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being. (p. 20)
How can leaders become more aware of their worldview and its influence on their leadership approach? Valk et al. (2011) in their “Worldviews and Leadership” article write:
Worldview construction is complex. Nonetheless, the nature of leadership reveals that great leaders take action in the world from a clear place: they are anchored in a particular view of the world. Humans are meaning makers, and when leaders assist others in making sense of the world through a clearly articulated and coherent worldview, solid action can follow. Thus, while we need to be cognizant of the diversity of worldviews and the diversity of uses of the concept, we also need to recognize that particular visions of life and ways of life can be powerful and compelling. The challenge to leadership is to find ways to more explicitly map out these worldviews, discerning those that tend to impede and restrict from those that seek to enhance and expand the world we truly need or want.” (p. 61)
Drawing on your reading of Valk et al. (2011) and Sire (2009) answer the following questions:
Respond this post:
“Worldview is a concept that requires an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and perhaps even transdisciplinary approach to fully understand its tenets and application” (Valk et al., 55).
Sire (2009) claims, “The fact is that we cannot avoid assuming some answers to such questions. We will adopt either one stance or another. Refusing to adopt an explicit worldview will turn out to be itself a worldview” (p. 24). We cannot reject worldviews or any kind of worldviews just like we cannot deny ourselves as existing in this world, and even nihilism is a form of being. Even if our worldviews are not manifest, they lead our actions and behaviours. Therefore, it must be realized that we need to know ourselves first in order to examine what our worldviews are as well as respect others by acknowledging the multiplicity of worldviews.
“Living” is devoting myself to my belief, passion, and the people I love. It is a process of framing my own stories that involve experience, reflection, and “reframing” (George, 2015, p .13). “Moving” means endeavouring to walk the talk and thought because my actions must align with my self-awareness and self-knowledge. It is never a long shot, yet I understand that it is a marathon due to the requirement of constant accumulated experiences and reflections. And that is the reason why “have our being” is vital because without knowing who we are (Sire, 2009, p. 20), what we want to become and what we value; it is impossible for us to dig deep enough into our heart to define our worldviews, or ultimately, to carry them out in the same actions.
My worldview helps me interpret how I can influence in a diverse world, and from a leadership perspective, it is to stay authentic. The world is constantly changing; situations are constantly changing, and our thoughts are constantly changing. So are our worldviews. As Valk et al. (2011) suggest, “A worldview is also dynamic – it changes over time” (p. 56). We must accept and embrace changes. However, leadership takes consistency and clearness so that we will know which direction we are going and leading. Without authenticity, we get lost easily, and we will not be able to recognize the changes and perhaps live through a bending worldview, not to mention how we can influence in this diverse world.
Considering that, what are some of the approaches for leaders to take to be honest with their worldviews and carry them out into reality?
Each post must be approx. 250 words and –
(a) the paper beginning with a opening quote.
(B)cite the preceding post (where applicable),
(c) cite at least TWO reading from the course or program. Citation with page number.
(d) conclude with an open-ended ques<on raised by your own reflection.
All posts should be clearly wrimen and contain no APA/spelling/grammaMcal errors. The required posts are substanMve, showing depth of knowledge on the topic.
o Substan>ve posts may include:
- ” Providing a new thought, idea, or perspecMve;
- ” CiMng an experience or example of what we are learning;
- ” Adding a new twist on a perspecMve;
- ” QuesMoning or challenging an idea, concept, principle, or perspecMve.
o Substan>ve posts are NOT:
- ” Very basic comments such as “I agree” or “I disagree”;
- ” RestaMng what has been said (unless there is a purpose in doing so);
- ” DisrespecZully disagreeing;
- ” Closed answers that do not provoke further thought.
Example: ( picture go down)
