What is the Emerging Leadership Network?
The Emerging Leadership Network is a dynamic and inclusive platform dedicated to nurturing and empowering leadership potential in individuals, regardless of their role or position within an organization. Rooted in the belief that leadership is a mindset and behavior, the network embraces the 70-20-10 framework, combining experiential learning, social learning, and formal learning to cultivate leadership skills effectively. By joining this international network, members have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about sharing and learning what makes the difference in fostering leadership growth in any organization. The Emerging Leadership Network is committed to helping individuals invest in their leadership development, activate their potential, and better serve the causes that matter to them, while also enabling them to create the conditions for others around them to thrive as leaders.
What is Emerging Leadership?
Emerging Leadership is the process of identifying, nurturing, and empowering individuals within an organization to assume leadership roles and responsibilities, regardless of their current position or title. It involves fostering a growth mindset and creating an environment that encourages everyone to actively contribute to the organization’s success by taking on leadership actions. By cultivating emerging leadership, organizations can unlock the potential of a diverse range of leaders to address complex challenges, drive innovation, and promote lasting change for a better future.
Why do we use the term Emerging to qualify Leadership?
The term “emerging” is used to qualify leadership because it emphasizes the idea that leadership is not a static, fixed concept but rather a constantly evolving and developing process. This perspective acknowledges that leadership potential can be found in individuals at all levels of an organization and is not limited to those in formal leadership roles or positions. By using “emerging” to describe leadership, it highlights the following aspects:
- Reaction to traditional leadership appointment: Emerging leadership challenges the conventional practice of appointing leaders based on hierarchical structures or predefined criteria. Instead, it advocates for creating the conditions that allow leaders to naturally emerge, driven by their inherent abilities and strengths.
- Growth mindset: Emerging leadership emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, personal development, and growth. It encourages individuals to be open to new ideas, experiences, and challenges, fostering adaptability and resilience.
- Inclusiveness: The term recognizes that leadership potential exists in every individual, regardless of their current position, role, or background. By focusing on emerging leadership, organizations can tap into the diverse range of skills, perspectives, and strengths that individuals bring to the table.
- Dynamic process: Emerging leadership acknowledges that leadership development is an ongoing, dynamic process that unfolds over time. It emphasizes the need for continuous reflection, feedback, and learning to ensure that individuals can adapt their leadership approach to changing circumstances and needs.
- Potential activation: The term implies that leadership potential may not always be immediately visible or recognized. Emerging leadership seeks to identify, nurture, and empower these hidden leadership qualities within individuals, enabling them to step up and make a positive impact within their organizations and beyond.
- Shared responsibility: By focusing on emerging leadership, organizations recognize that leadership is a shared responsibility, requiring collaboration, communication, and mutual support among team members.
In summary, using the term “emerging” to qualify leadership highlights the importance of moving away from traditional leadership appointment practices and fostering a growth mindset, inclusiveness, adaptability, and shared responsibility in the pursuit of effective leadership within organizations. By creating the right conditions for leadership to emerge, organizations can unlock the full potential of their members and drive lasting, positive change.