Monthly Archives: October 2008

Four goals of the organizational leader

Leaders approach their work in many ways. They use various frames of references to inform how they go about their work. Some, for instance, focus on the concept of “leadership style.” Others lean toward the leader-as-manager approach while others take … Continue reading

Posted in bowen family systems theory, leadership | Comments Off on Four goals of the organizational leader

Anxiety and the myth of security

I continue to observe manifestations of how anxiety can lead to a search for security. Even before the current manic anxiety related to the financial crises, but more so now because of it, I have been observing reactivity taking the … Continue reading

Posted in bowen family systems theory, leadership | Comments Off on Anxiety and the myth of security

Five personal resources for leadership

Purists of Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) tend to eschew all notions or frameworks of individualistic perspectives to therapy or interpreting families or organizations (like “personality type” or “traits” schemas). They prefer a consistent “systemic” approach that focuses on the … Continue reading

Posted in bowen family systems theory, leadership | 2 Comments

Five ways to become a popular leader

Every once in a while I need to challenge someone by asking, “Do you want to be liked or do you want to be effective?” In one sense it’s a false choice, but in another sense, leaders often will have … Continue reading

Posted in bowen family systems theory, leadership | Comments Off on Five ways to become a popular leader