Multidimensional Leadership

When we talk about leadership, we often refer to a directive function, a role necessary for the development of a coordinated activity in which several individuals are involved. Thus, we think that a leader is only the one who exercises that function in a visible, frontal way . But this flat or one-dimensional vision of the phenomenon that, for a long time, has been the working paradigm, begins to break down when, from a deeper look, the multidimensionality of the function is observed and how, together with the traditional figure of the frontal, visible leader legitimized by the organizational chart, other necessary dimensions begin to be observed.

If we take a step back from the traditional conception of role leadership, we can see that the leadership function is being assumed from different levels . For example, a front-line leader is the one who presents the department’s budgets to the board of directors. But so is the one who gathers and verifies the data that feeds it, or who has given his support to the speaker and is committed to his progress… We would be talking about a leader from behind , in this case.

In this way, we could distinguish between different leadership positions and, in fact, the Co-Active Leadership Experience (CLE) program does so very precisely. However, beyond the identification of the dimensions through which we must learn to “navigate” in order to exercise flexible and effective leadership, this program encourages us to explore who we are and what internal narratives we develop in each of the positions .

Leadership is about choosing where you put your focus and sticking to it, regardless of what position you hold. I guess it’s easy to agree on that. To lead is to serve from our commitment, whether in a professional, family or life environment. Leadership is, therefore, more than a role, more than a function, a condition inseparable from consciousness, from our consciousness as human beings, which makes us protagonists, instead of the caboose on the train of our life. Being in choice and knowing ourselves to be in choice , regardless of the leadership dimension that we occupy at different moments in our life , is really what separates us from reactive victimhood and allows us to assume ourselves as complete, creative and resourceful human beings .

Sergio Blancafort
Academic Director GLG

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