Consulting
Dr. Danesh has served as an expert consultant on issues of peace education, leadership and governance, marriage and the family, peace-based conflict resolution, religion and peace, institutional development, violence prevention, and the “Culture of Healing” for many international and national organizations independently or on behalf of EFP- International and other institutions. His most recent consulting assignment was as a senior consultant on “leadership” with the UNDP-SACI program in Southern Africa.
Dr. Danesh is also the Executive Director of the International Peace Consultants, Incorporated — a private consulting agency on peace in domains of the family, community, international, inter-religious, and interethnic areas of human relationship.
For inquiries regarding International Peace Consultants, please send an e-mail to hdanesh@internationalpeaceconsultants.com.
Reflections on Leadership
The Need for a New Approach to LeadershipThe art, science, and skills of leadership are all in a state of crisis. Leaders in various departments of human life find themselves greatly burdened by manifold social, economic, and political problems and interpersonal and intergroup conflicts, grievances, and rivalries which challenge their efforts to meet the responsibilities of leadership entrusted to them. The task of leadership is further made difficult, because the existing models of leadership do not match the emerging challenges of the administration of human affairs. It is increasingly evident that a new type of leadership is required, if we are to equally match the skills of governance with the needs and demands of the citizens.
The Main Elements of Transformative Leadership
In response to these realities, Dr. Danesh has developed a novel and progressive model for effecting leadership transformation at both individual and institutional levels. An enlightened, progressive, and effective leadership is only possible within a certain type of worldview and institutional culture, which Dr. Danesh has used for formulation of his unique approaches to leadership training. Among the main elements of Transformative Leadership Training are issues of:
- Vision, Mission, and Leadership
- Power and Authority in Leadership
- Worldview transformation and Leadership
- Types of Leadership: power-based, competition-based, consultation- based (transformative)
- Dynamics of institutional and organizational development and transformation
- Perspective, Principles and Purpose in transformative leadership
- Consultative and participatory decision making and unified search for best solutions
- The main requisites for creating democratic institutions
- Conflict-free Conflict Resolution and Leadership
- Leadership and unity-building in the context of diversity
- Leadership and ethics of democratic governance
- Leadership and issues of accountability, ownership and responsibilities
- Leadership for building a culture of commitment and service
- Creativity, initiative, and leadership.
Power and Authority in Transformative Leadership
Power and authority are the fundamental components of leadership. The authority component of leadership refers to the authoritative framework that provides the essential guidelines for effective leadership. Through this authoritative framework individuals in positions of leadership are provided with justification and legitimacy to lead others and to guide those under their rule.
The effectiveness of leadership and preservation of authority of leaders are directly dependent on the source, universality, and validity of the authoritative framework within which leaders function. It is axiomatic that the more transcendent the source of authority is, the more legitimate is the exercise of power by the leader within these authoritative parameters.
The universality of an authoritative framework ensures its acceptance by many and creates conditions that create harmony of purpose between those in authority and the rest of the population. When an authoritative framework is personal and limited in its scope, the likelihood of it being accepted by the majority is negligible and even when a large number of individuals submit to such authority, this submission takes place only under conditions of threat and oppression.
The validity of an authoritative framework refers to its being based on sound conceptual and scientific foundations. A closer look at the universal concepts that form the authoritative frameworks, most influential in the life and history of humanity, shows that they all are based on certain universally accepted principles: that life, in general, and human life, in particular, is sacred; that equality, justice, and freedom from oppression are prerequisite requirements for creating truly civilized societies; that truth, truthfulness, and trustworthiness are essential for establishing a solid foundation for human relationship at all levels; that love, mutual acceptance, unity in diversity, and peace are and have been among the most universally sought after conditions by all peoples throughout history; and that creativity, meaning, and transcendence are inherent aspects of human nature and indispensable for living a truly humane life. These universal principles affect all aspects of human life: material, psychological, sociopolitical, and moral/spiritual.
The power component of leadership refers to the ability of both leaders and those who are led to use their individual and collective cognitive (knowledge), affective (love), and conative (will) powers to act within the authoritative framework they have adopted. Thus, there is a direct, positive relationship between authority and power. The more legitimate and universal is the source of authority, and the more valid and meritorious is the source of power, the more creative, universal, and enlightened will be the nature of leadership.
Worldview and Transformative Leadership
Human development takes place on the axis of consciousness. Thus, the emergence of a new phase in the collective maturation of humanity is inevitably intertwined with the development of a new “worldview” with new insights about ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the world. In the context of a new worldview, every aspect of life of humanity is altered. New worldview changes our interpretation of reality and helps us to formulate new perspective on every aspect of life. It is through this process that civilizations emerge. History confirms that all major lasting civilizations are based on certain worldviews, all associated with a major religion, a moral philosophy, or a powerful ideology. Thus we have in our world Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish civilizations, respectively based on worldviews espoused by each of these religions. The Chinese civilization is based on the moral philosophy put forward by Confucius and other ancient Chinese philosophers. During the 20th Century the ancient Chinese philosophy was supplanted by Marxist ideology. Each of these civilizations have their own unique worldviews and, therefore, unique perspectives on the issue of leadership.
We as individuals live in groups, which are invariably subject to the dynamics of leadership and the related issues of power and authority. In a review of modes of leadership in all human societies we can identify three basic forms of worldview that inform these leadership approaches: Survival-based Worldview, Identity-based Worldview, and Unity-based Worldview.
The Survival-based Worldview
The Survival-based Worldview usually corresponds with the first 1-2 decades of life of individual growth, and agrarian and pre-industrial periods of social development. The modes of government are usually authoritarian, power is the main social commodity, and the masses who have littler or no power usually suffer from poverty, disease, and other personal and social deprivations. Survival-based worldview often gives birth to interpersonal and social conflict and violence. The leaders tend to demand conformity, blind obedience, and passive resignation. Women, children, and those devoid of power and wealth suffer disadvantage, neglect, and abuse. Power-based leadership is usually the outcome of survival-based worldview.
The Identity-based Worldview
The Identity-based Worldview is the characteristic of individuals and societies, in their phase of adolescence. In this stage individuals and societies have a greater degree of understanding, experience, power, and capacity and begin to focus on establishing their unique individual and collective identity. The identity phase corresponds with the coming of age of the individual and the period of scientific and technological advancements and rapid social change. Competition and survival of the fittest are the main operating principles at this stage of development, and the ultimate objectives of those involved are to get ahead of others and to win. Competition-based leadership is the hallmark of identity-based worldview.
The Unity-based Worldview
The Unity-based Worldview characterizes a new and more advanced phase in the development of both individuals and societies and is based on the consciousness of oneness of humanity in the context of unity in diversity. Its ultimate objective is to create a just, prosperous, caring, and democratic civilization of peace. The unity-based worldview demands the equal participation of women with men in the administration of human society. It rejects all forms of prejudice and segregation. It requires the application of universal ethical principles at all levels of government. It ensures that the fundamental human needs for safety, freedom, prosperity, and progress are met within the framework of the rule of law, regard for fundamental human rights, both at the individual and collective levels, and a consultative approach to decision making. The unity-based worldview is at the core of Consultative (Transformative) Leadership. ▼