Leadership and Strategic Communication

Specifics for the Leadership Propositions Assignment

Leadership Propositions Assignment

The Development of a Leadership Model

This class is built around several conceptual principles. One of these principles is that we need to develop as leaders and that we must take responsibility for that development. To facilitate this, you are to develop a series of leadership propositions organized around the 10 commitments from Kouzes and Posner and the 5 levels (Skill Set; Tactics; Strategy; Theoretical Proposition; Philosophy) of leadership.

A proposition is something that you believe to be true. It will usually take the form of a short sentence or two.

The attached spreadsheet is designed to help you do that. It creates a matrix with Kouzes and Posner’s 10 commitments down the side and the 5 levels of leadership across the top. The most important things are to fill in every cell, include the name of the leader or book and, make the propositions significant.

Using the book about a leader that you have picked you should work to fill in each cell of the matrix. Simply download the matrix onto your computer and enter propositions as you develop them. Most of your propositions should come from the book, but you can take some (no more than 20%) from your own personal experiences and other sources.

You should always state where your propositions come from in the spreadsheet. Examples: Lincoln 43 would mean from page 43 in your book about Abraham Lincoln. Elizabeth C2 would mean Queen Elizabeth Chapter 2, PE would be from personal experience, Oprah September 2003 would be from Oprah’s show sometime in September.

Some examples of propositions are:

Commitment: Envision the Future

Skill Set:

An important second order skill set is developing the ability to think outside the box. There are several paths to this, and they are found in many of the mind play books and exercises. Read a book on them.

Tactics:

Gather at least one piece of new information daily. Read an article, a chapter, a web site, watch a show, etc. daily.

Strategy:

Develop your own personal strategic plan for your own life, starting with personal vision.

Theoretical Proposition:

Achieving your vision, goals, desires and hopes is only possible through the precondition of defining and stating your vision, goals, desires and hopes.

Vision, goals, desires and hopes do not have to be completely obtainable.

Philosophy:

The leader must develop a set of ideals, core values, and principles to guide his or her behavior on the journey.

The act of setting and stating your vision, goals, desires and hopes is an important endeavor in and of itself.