Reframing Leadership: Understanding Situations, Understanding Yourself

EDU BA010 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

***ONLY OFFERED FOR OEL STUDENTS*** How leaders lead depends on what they think they are leading.  What is the situation they are facing?  How do they understand the circumstances surrounding it? Might there be analyses and interpretations of events other than those that initially occurred to them?  If so, might they lead to a different set of choices as to how to proceed? This module introduces students to Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership, 7th Edition. Authors Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal group a wide array of organizational theories into four categories they call “Frames,” each of which offers a different way of understanding and managing organizational life.  Used together, the Frames are useful tools for decoding complicated situations and issues and deciding how best to address them.  The Frames leaders employ determine what they see and what they miss.  By systematically pushing themselves to have a deeper and more complex understanding of what's going on, leaders can better understand situations, anticipate different reactions and outcomes, and develop a more complete set of responses. The Frames also serve as reminders that leaders have long-established ways of thinking and their first "take" on something may be the result of their limited analysis, cognitive biases, or both.  In this leadership module, students will examine which Frames they feel less comfortable using and consider how might they can become more adept at using all four Frames to enhance their leadership skills.