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Leading from the Roots: Nature-Inspired Leadership Lessons for Today's World
Can we design organizations in a way that creates a space where employees, the organization, and the larger community all thrive? And if so, where can we go for inspiration to help us achieve this goal? In a time of volatile and complex uncertainty, it is time to learn the lessons that nature has compiled from 3.8 billion years of research and development. Nature is an interdependent, dynamic and living system – just like today’s organizations and communities. Kathleen Allen uses nature as a model, mentor, and muse to rethink how leadership is practiced today. Leading from the Roots takes nature as a source of inspiration to help organizations see a new way of leading and designing workplace structure, applying the generous framework found in mature ecologies to human organizations. Kathleen Allen helps shift assumptions, practices, structures, and processes of organizations to become more resilient and nourishing for all, and, along the way, design the way out of workplace dysfunction and drama. “Leading from the Roots provides a powerful new way of thinking about organizations as living systems and delivers practical leadership frameworks for individuals to learn how to unleash the energy and create innovative, effective teams.
-Anne Boneparte, CEO Appthority This book is a must read for organizational leaders who are not only committed to their mission, but equally to creating a workplace that attracts and retains the brightest and the best professionals fully enabled to meet that mission. -Caryl Stern, President & CEO UNICEF USA
-Anne Boneparte, CEO Appthority This book is a must read for organizational leaders who are not only committed to their mission, but equally to creating a workplace that attracts and retains the brightest and the best professionals fully enabled to meet that mission. -Caryl Stern, President & CEO UNICEF USA
- GenresBusinessLeadership
204 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2018
27 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 18, 2019
Read the full review on excellentbookreviews.com
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Whenever someone invokes nature in a business context, it is usually to manipulate emotions and soften up the audience for a big lie. Something that specifically ticks me off is the recurring notion that nature is beautiful, serene and good. The truth is that nature is wildly interesting, but if we look at it with humanizing eyes, we find the most pure and beautiful virtues next to the most appalling atrocities. Rhesus monkey refuse to hurt a companion for food until they are literally starving. Bottlenose dolphins form gangs to isolate and coerce a female into mating, battering her when she tries to escape. Those gangs might also try to drown newborn dolphin calfs to have a go at the mother later. And that is good, because nature works only because it doesn't care about human sensitivities.
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So if we leave all the faulty metaphors aside, what can we learn from Leading from the Roots? Companies should respect, engage and develop people, communities and the society as a hole, foster diversity and change, and be ready to adapt. Simple, almost commonsense advice that is pretty hard to actually follow when you have a huge burden of legacy policies and processes on your back. The buzzword du jour is generous, which basically means the same as Read the full review on kind or regenerative . Unfortunately, Allen mostly talks about abstract organizations without real-world examples, making Leading from the Roots more of a philosophical treatise than an advisory book.
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Whenever someone invokes nature in a business context, it is usually to manipulate emotions and soften up the audience for a big lie. Something that specifically ticks me off is the recurring notion that nature is beautiful, serene and good. The truth is that nature is wildly interesting, but if we look at it with humanizing eyes, we find the most pure and beautiful virtues next to the most appalling atrocities. Rhesus monkey refuse to hurt a companion for food until they are literally starving. Bottlenose dolphins form gangs to isolate and coerce a female into mating, battering her when she tries to escape. Those gangs might also try to drown newborn dolphin calfs to have a go at the mother later. And that is good, because nature works only because it doesn't care about human sensitivities.
...
So if we leave all the faulty metaphors aside, what can we learn from Leading from the Roots? Companies should respect, engage and develop people, communities and the society as a hole, foster diversity and change, and be ready to adapt. Simple, almost commonsense advice that is pretty hard to actually follow when you have a huge burden of legacy policies and processes on your back. The buzzword du jour is generous, which basically means the same as Read the full review on kind or regenerative . Unfortunately, Allen mostly talks about abstract organizations without real-world examples, making Leading from the Roots more of a philosophical treatise than an advisory book.
...
April 20, 2020
Book Title: Leading by the Roots
Book Author: Kathleen Allen
Format: PaperbackRating: 5 out of 5 stars (⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐)
In Leading by the Roots, Dr. Kathleen Allen addresses the complexity of leadership and its practices through a unique correlation to nature. During the current season of uncertainty for organizations, which stems from the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that Allen’s text is a must-read.
Right now, the leadership teams within an organization is key to the survival of the organization and collaboration among colleagues. This text not only supports this belief, but it provides concrete evidence that this is true, as well as illuminates ways that an organization can transform by implementation of specific practices.
Now more than ever, the role(s) of leaders in an organization is immensely important its productivity and morale among colleagues. According to Allen, cooperation is important to leadership with an organization. Thus, Allen promotes the identification of interdependency among leadership teams and colleagues. An example of an exercise to identify the interdependency is included in Chapter 5. Through this identification of how each member of the team is interdependent, a shared purposed can be established.
I was intrigued by how the text identifies aspect of nature and its correlation to successful leadership. The evidence-based descriptions of the correlation are very clear. Allen encourages the examination of nature principles to successfully transform organizations to be more efficient and productive.
In each chapter of the book, Allen presents important concepts, lessons, and suggestions to address different aspects of organizational culture that can negatively impact its success. For example, Chapter 5, Nature Rewards Cooperation, suggests the articulation of a shared organizational purpose, the building of integrative power, and the enhancing of intrinsic responsibility through the creation of systems and policies. Additionally, this chapter encourages the development of trust and trustworthiness for cooperation within the organization.
Since COVID-19 has surprisingly transformed organizational culture in every aspect, reading this text can help leadership teams tread through the unfamiliar and uncertain waters to continue leading their teams. I believe everyone in any organization should read this text. Readers will not be disappointed. This book contains a wealth of knowledge that can be implemented. I know that I plan to use this text to teach my graduate students in the Rural Public and Planning program.
Book Author: Kathleen Allen
Format: PaperbackRating: 5 out of 5 stars (⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐)
In Leading by the Roots, Dr. Kathleen Allen addresses the complexity of leadership and its practices through a unique correlation to nature. During the current season of uncertainty for organizations, which stems from the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that Allen’s text is a must-read.
Right now, the leadership teams within an organization is key to the survival of the organization and collaboration among colleagues. This text not only supports this belief, but it provides concrete evidence that this is true, as well as illuminates ways that an organization can transform by implementation of specific practices.
Now more than ever, the role(s) of leaders in an organization is immensely important its productivity and morale among colleagues. According to Allen, cooperation is important to leadership with an organization. Thus, Allen promotes the identification of interdependency among leadership teams and colleagues. An example of an exercise to identify the interdependency is included in Chapter 5. Through this identification of how each member of the team is interdependent, a shared purposed can be established.
I was intrigued by how the text identifies aspect of nature and its correlation to successful leadership. The evidence-based descriptions of the correlation are very clear. Allen encourages the examination of nature principles to successfully transform organizations to be more efficient and productive.
In each chapter of the book, Allen presents important concepts, lessons, and suggestions to address different aspects of organizational culture that can negatively impact its success. For example, Chapter 5, Nature Rewards Cooperation, suggests the articulation of a shared organizational purpose, the building of integrative power, and the enhancing of intrinsic responsibility through the creation of systems and policies. Additionally, this chapter encourages the development of trust and trustworthiness for cooperation within the organization.
Since COVID-19 has surprisingly transformed organizational culture in every aspect, reading this text can help leadership teams tread through the unfamiliar and uncertain waters to continue leading their teams. I believe everyone in any organization should read this text. Readers will not be disappointed. This book contains a wealth of knowledge that can be implemented. I know that I plan to use this text to teach my graduate students in the Rural Public and Planning program.
October 18, 2018
Dr. Kathleen E. Allen wrote this book in hopes people will use inspirations found in nature to help businesses design a way out of complex problems. All the while, helping organizations to pursue a healthy understanding of the role that leadership processes play in creating a sustainable and fruitful future.
You undoubtedly now think this book is about change and it is, but more than that, it’s about how businesses can go about finding direction in the context of investigating perspectives for nurturing and enhancing relationships.
Dr. Allen begins by getting at the root of the matter and asking some serious questions about what is causing the disorganization in the first place, knowing the issues have a great impact on the decisions.
Those of us who plot out particular paths in the natural world know that nature is highly adaptive, and in nature, humans often discount species that are difficult to interact with and this likely carries over into our workforce.
I appreciate that Dr. Allen brings up a question that concerns many in the working sector.
"What drains our energy?"
This is often voiced in conjunction with those working over-time and/or an employee feeling unsafe, living with self-doubt and seeking self-preservation, resulting in an acute stress response.
Moving forward, Dr. Allen presents that positive energy is boosted by utilizing authentic relationships, a shared higher purpose and reciprocity, thus showing us that utilizing interconnected relationships to change consumptive organizations to generous ones, is working.
She breaks down ecological principles and describes the nature of systemic leadership processes that are designed to create and encourage community, and foster organizational renewal.
In closing, I truly can't say enough good things about this book. In nature, things often let go and move forward to be part of the whole. Similarly, in a living system environment, we learn that people evolve and become more diverse. This enhances decision making and not only does it helps to accomplish goals, but it also gives all a greater sense of belonging.
I received a copy of this wonderful book, via Dina Ely, from Morgan James Publishing for my honest review.
You undoubtedly now think this book is about change and it is, but more than that, it’s about how businesses can go about finding direction in the context of investigating perspectives for nurturing and enhancing relationships.
Dr. Allen begins by getting at the root of the matter and asking some serious questions about what is causing the disorganization in the first place, knowing the issues have a great impact on the decisions.
Those of us who plot out particular paths in the natural world know that nature is highly adaptive, and in nature, humans often discount species that are difficult to interact with and this likely carries over into our workforce.
I appreciate that Dr. Allen brings up a question that concerns many in the working sector.
"What drains our energy?"
This is often voiced in conjunction with those working over-time and/or an employee feeling unsafe, living with self-doubt and seeking self-preservation, resulting in an acute stress response.
Moving forward, Dr. Allen presents that positive energy is boosted by utilizing authentic relationships, a shared higher purpose and reciprocity, thus showing us that utilizing interconnected relationships to change consumptive organizations to generous ones, is working.
She breaks down ecological principles and describes the nature of systemic leadership processes that are designed to create and encourage community, and foster organizational renewal.
In closing, I truly can't say enough good things about this book. In nature, things often let go and move forward to be part of the whole. Similarly, in a living system environment, we learn that people evolve and become more diverse. This enhances decision making and not only does it helps to accomplish goals, but it also gives all a greater sense of belonging.
I received a copy of this wonderful book, via Dina Ely, from Morgan James Publishing for my honest review.
May 2, 2019
“Leadership today is about unlearning management and relearning being human.” – Javier Pladevall, CEO of Volkswagen Audi Retail
You know I like a book when I mark it up with post-its, write notes in the margins, highlight certain passages and nod my head along like one of those bobble-head figurines. Which is exactly what I did while reading Dr. Kathleen E. Allen’s fascinating, timely and revolutionary’s book Leading from the Roots: Nature-Inspired Leadership Lessons for Today’s World.
This book implores organizational leaders (and pretty much anyone else with a stake in the workplace) to look beyond the confines of the physical spaces where we toil to nature and how it can help us and our companies thrive.
Leading from the Roots is divided into 11 well-researched, and finely-written chapters on concepts like cooperation, diversity, lack of waste, curbing excess, the power of limits and so much more.
Each chapter gives ample evidence on how nature can help worker’s productivity and commitment to their jobs and how simple it is to work these practices into the workplace that won’t break the bank, take up too much time, or distract us from our tasks at hand. Dr. Allen provides ample evidence through both her extensive end notes and bibliography. And each chapter concludes with a summary of the chapter’s main focus and points to ponder and discuss.
Simply put, Leading from the Roots inspired me. Dr. Allen’s lessons are doable, practical and very audience-friendly. It’s ideal for everyone-managers, workers, students and grads, religious leaders, politicians, activists, teachers, creative types, social workers, medical personal, entrepreneurs, and so on.
Leading from the Roots is a great addition to my book shelf. I highly suggest you add it to your book shelf.Originally published at TheBookSelf:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
You know I like a book when I mark it up with post-its, write notes in the margins, highlight certain passages and nod my head along like one of those bobble-head figurines. Which is exactly what I did while reading Dr. Kathleen E. Allen’s fascinating, timely and revolutionary’s book Leading from the Roots: Nature-Inspired Leadership Lessons for Today’s World.
This book implores organizational leaders (and pretty much anyone else with a stake in the workplace) to look beyond the confines of the physical spaces where we toil to nature and how it can help us and our companies thrive.
Leading from the Roots is divided into 11 well-researched, and finely-written chapters on concepts like cooperation, diversity, lack of waste, curbing excess, the power of limits and so much more.
Each chapter gives ample evidence on how nature can help worker’s productivity and commitment to their jobs and how simple it is to work these practices into the workplace that won’t break the bank, take up too much time, or distract us from our tasks at hand. Dr. Allen provides ample evidence through both her extensive end notes and bibliography. And each chapter concludes with a summary of the chapter’s main focus and points to ponder and discuss.
Simply put, Leading from the Roots inspired me. Dr. Allen’s lessons are doable, practical and very audience-friendly. It’s ideal for everyone-managers, workers, students and grads, religious leaders, politicians, activists, teachers, creative types, social workers, medical personal, entrepreneurs, and so on.
Leading from the Roots is a great addition to my book shelf. I highly suggest you add it to your book shelf.Originally published at TheBookSelf:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
May 8, 2019
A book to help many
This book was an interesting read, and I was honored to read it. The book was very inspiring, and helpful. It was an easy, perfectly paced book that gives information and help for different areas of life, including personal and professional. It brings the reader back to nature, and how it can help. I liked how the book was organized, and the information and resources that were also provided, were very helpful, and yes, again, I say inspiring. Reading this won't fix your problems, but it is a great guide to do so. I look forward to reading more by this author.
This book was an interesting read, and I was honored to read it. The book was very inspiring, and helpful. It was an easy, perfectly paced book that gives information and help for different areas of life, including personal and professional. It brings the reader back to nature, and how it can help. I liked how the book was organized, and the information and resources that were also provided, were very helpful, and yes, again, I say inspiring. Reading this won't fix your problems, but it is a great guide to do so. I look forward to reading more by this author.
January 30, 2021
Appreciate the comparison
December 15, 2021
Excellent read and metaphors throughout the book. Each chapter added a layer that discusses the complexity of organizations in a relatable way.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews