Leadership in Unknown Water (Paperback)

Lisa Withrow

ISBN 10: 0718895517 / ISBN 13: 9780718895518

Published by James Clarke & Co Ltd, Cambridge, 2020

About this Item

Paperback. Leading Into Unknown Waters: Liminality as Threshold into the Future addresses the issue of liminality, or living in threshold spaces during vast changes in various fields including the business world, social services, non-profits, and religious organisations. Change is problematic when it is met with reactive methods rather than the intentional call to leaders to adopt particular practices for organisations that purposefully promote living into liminal space as a threshold toward a new, positive beginning.The primary purpose of the book is for leaders to learn how to lead well in these circumstances, within a variety of contexts, inviting others in their organisations or groups to de-polarise, adapt, and eventually thrive during transitory times and in rapidly changing conditions. Specifically, the book provides discussion about a particular kind of communal learning space that allows for adventure, vulnerability, and a deeper wisdom than individuals bring on their own.The second purpose is to decrease the anxiety in these times with a suggested path forward for leaders and followers that invites us out of fear-based stances and into purposeful and meaningful work together. The new contribution is the intersection of various fields into the leadership discipline from the perspective of a coach/teacher/religious leader, incorporating spirituality through metaphor in to the discussion of leadership in liminal space without using the religious jargon or advocating a particular religious stance. An imaginative exploration of how an understanding of liminality aids those in leadership roles in adapting creatively to change. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780718895518

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Leadership in Unknown Water (Paperback)
• Publisher: James Clarke & Co Ltd, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0718895517
• ISBN 13: 9780718895518
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Leadership in Unknown Waters invites organizational leaders and their teams to engage powerful questions amidst ambiguity and uncertainty as they move from the-way-things-were to an emerging future. This liminality, a threshold in space and time allowing for transition from something old to something new, is fraught with both difficulty and opportunity. Leaders, teams, and individuals who navigate this space skillfully will land in surprisingly dynamic places, encountering stories, metaphors, and inspiration for traversing the threshold not only competently, but with curiosity and confidence. In this way, futures are created that are not possible with fear-based planning or "quick fixes". Withrow's method intersects the human imagination through a visual, living metaphor (water), with attention to space (liminality, or transitional space), and focus on role (leadership development) for powerful engagement with what organizational learning theorists call "the emerging future". Here, the theoretical meets the practical and research informs the "how to" and "why". Diving into unknown waters with tools and wisdom can create a better future for all who face change, whether within corporations, not-for-profit organizations, faith communities, family systems, or interpersonal relationships.

About the Author

Lisa Withrow is the Dewire Professor of Christian Leadership at the Methodist theological School in Ohio, and has published work on Church Leadership, pastoral care and women's studies.