For those who wish to go more deeply into some of the ideas explored in Transformative Leadership, the authors recommend the following books that are coherent with this approach.
Human by design
Braden references a growing body of scientific evidence leading to the conclusion that violent competition and war directly contradict our deepest instincts for cooperation and nurturing. Furthermore, he speaks of intentional evolution, evolution with a purpose, since the changes in the genes that make humans distinct from other species were too dramatic and rapid to have occurred solely through a process of random mutation.
Gregg Braden: Human Design: From Evolution by Chance to Transformation by Choice
Beyond the culture of contest
How can social change occur? Is it possible to have a democratic government without political parties? Can we have a productive economy without unfettered and aggressive competition? How can we address social and ecological ills without resorting to a ‘culture of protest’
Questioning the culture of
He then proposes mutualism as the antidote to the many problems generated by competition, exploring expressions of mutualism that exist within feminism, systems theory, ecology, communication theory, and alternative dispute resolution.
He also includes a case study of the Baha’i community and its experience as a working, non-adversarial model of social practice, affirming that the prescriptions and practices of the Baha’i community provide a viable and workable alternative to the culture of
Michael Karlberg: Beyond the Culture of Contest
You can also see his TEDx talk.
No Contest: The Case Against Competition
Kohn explores the negative effects of competition, especially in education and sports.
No Contest stands as the definitive critique of competition. Contrary to accepted wisdom, competition is not basic to human nature; it poisons our relationships and holds us back from doing our best. In this new edition, Alfie Kohn argues that the race to win turns all of us into losers.
Alfie Kohn: No Contest: The Case Against Competition
The Promise of World Peace
This document begins with the challenging affirmation: “World peace is not only possible but inevitable”, followed by the warning: “Whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by humanity’s stubborn clinging to old patterns of behavior, or is to be embraced now by an act of consultative will, is the choice before all who inhabit the earth.”
Emphasizing that lasting peace requires more than treaties among nations, the document explores cultural requirements for peace, beginning with the recognition of the essential unity of all humankind, implying as it does the elimination of racism and prejudice of all kinds. The document further emphasizes the contribution to peace made by the practice of principles, such as the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty, unity among religions, full equality of rights and opportunities between the sexes, universal education, and the adoption of an international auxiliary language.
Universal House of Justice: The Promise of World Peace
Servant leadership
According to Greenleaf,a servant leader shares power, puts the needs of the employees first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. This focus in service-oriented leadership is the first element of the conceptual framework of Transformative Leadership
Robert Greenleaf: Servant Leadership
Principle-Centered Leadership
Covey emphasizes that there are certain universal principles that are natural laws in the human dimension, just as gravity is a natural law in the physical dimension. These principles have been recognized by all successful cultures and societies throughout history. Our task is to develop awareness of these principles and to apply them in our lives.
Stephen R. Covey: Principle-Centered Leadership
Humble leadership
The more traditional forms of leadership based on static hierarchies and professional distance between leaders and followers are growing increasingly outdated and ineffective. As organizations face more complex interdependent tasks, leadership must become more personal to ensure open, trusting communication that will make more collaborative problem solving and innovation possible.
Authors Edgar Schein and Peter Schein call for a reimagined form of leadership that coincides with emerging trends of relationship building, complex group work, diverse workforces, and cultures in which everyone feels psychologically safe. Humble Leadership at all levels and in all working groups will be the key to achieving the creativity, adaptiveness, and agility that organizations will need to survive and grow.
Edgar Schein: Humble Leadership
The Fifth Discipline
Senge explores in detail several of the concepts included in Transformative Leadership, such as mental models and the need to question them, systemic thinking, commitment to a shared vision, and personal transformation or personal mastery.
Peter Senge: The Fifth Discipline
Theory u
This book offers a concise, accessible guide to the key concepts and applications in Otto Scharmer’s classic Theory U. Scharmer argues that our capacity to pay attention coshapes the world. What prevents us from attending to situations more effectively is that we aren’t fully aware of that interior condition from which our attention and actions originate. Scharmer calls this lack of awareness our blind spot. He illuminates the blind spot in leadership today and offers hands-on methods to help change-makers overcome it through the process, principles, and practices of Theory U. This book enables leaders and organizations in all industries and sectors to shift awareness, connect with the highest future possibilities, and strengthen the capacity to co-shape the future.
Otto Scharmer: The Essentials of Theory U
Developing Genius
Kolstoe delves into the process of consultation, or group decision-making. When all members recognize that each person sees some aspect of the truth of a situation and that through careful, respectful listening, each can broaden his own understanding, they sincerely strive to comprehend one another’s viewpoints. This not only facilitates arriving at a consensus. It can lead to the spark of genius–a decision that is much better than any of the initial ideas that each person brought to the consultation.
John Kolstoe: Developing Genius: Getting the Most Out of Group Decision-Making
mindset
We often consider that praise encourages others. However, Dweck’s investigations indicate that different ways of praising have different effects. While praising someone’s intelligence or innate talent leads them to have a fixed mindset, in which they are not motivated to struggle to improve, praising their effort and self-discipline leads to a growth mindset, in which obstacles are seen as challenges to overcome.
Carol S. Dweck: Mindset
Prosperity of Humankind
This document analyzes the process of development, affirming that “unless the development of society finds a purpose beyond the mere amelioration of material conditions, it will fail of attaining even these goals.” Since that broader purpose is found in spiritual dimensions of life and motivation, the document goes on to explore topics, such as the unity of humankind, justice, consultation, the role of science and religion, and the understanding of different types of power.
While recognizing the importance of economic efforts in development, it asserts that their most important role is to equip “people and institutions with the means through which they can achieve the real purpose of development: that is, laying foundations for a new social order that can cultivate the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness.”