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A Final Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master’s Degree in Conflict Facilitation and Organizational Change, Process Work Institute, Portland, OR, 2014
Local notes
http://www.processwork.org/files/Finalprojects/Ilkiw_V_September_2014.pdf
Abstract
The motivation behind this research is an assumption that the elder role, as described in process work, is a significant aspect of effective leadership. The purpose of the research is to explore the formation of the elder role in the context of leadership, and whether the elder role or process of transformation into the elder, can be taught or learned. The following questions focused the research:
• How is the elder role formed and can this role be learned or taught?
• What can we learn from process work to capture an understanding of and to deconstruct what is required in the formation of the elder?
• What can we learn from Indigenous communities that can elucidate this role further?
• How does this role or perspective relate to other theories on leadership and leadership
training?
The topic is explored through a literature review and qualitative research using an heuristic methodological design. Fourteen subjects, identified as having elder-ful leadership qualities, were interviewed exploring their experience and understanding of the elder role. The literature review includes: a mainstream leadership overview; research on the elder role in Indigenous communities; and a review of the elder role in the process work literature. The research identifies the elder role as an important part of humanity and our wholeness. A bridge is found between Indigenous wisdom and knowing, the process work paradigm and of evolving Western attitude of seeking to understand the interconnectedness of nature, and our place as humans in it. Eldership qualities can be learned and brought forward intentionally with disciplined inner exploration. The role also has powerful transformative potential, supporting the natural self-organization o fa system and provides a way to work with diversity, chaos and conflict when the elder role is present. Thus, it is a key quality in leadership development. The qualities inherent in the elder role have a significant effect on successful conflict transformation and create a deeper understanding of how we can co-create within systems.
Key words: Leadership, leadership development, systems change, system-mind, processmind, deep democracy, Indigenous leadership, elder role, eldership, process work
Abstract
The motivation behind this research is an assumption that the elder role, as described in process work, is a significant aspect of effective leadership. The purpose of the research is to explore the formation of the elder role in the context of leadership, and whether the elder role or process of transformation into the elder, can be taught or learned. The following questions focused the research:
• How is the elder role formed and can this role be learned or taught?
• What can we learn from process work to capture an understanding of and to deconstruct what is required in the formation of the elder?
• What can we learn from Indigenous communities that can elucidate this role further?
• How does this role or perspective relate to other theories on leadership and leadership
training?
The topic is explored through a literature review and qualitative research using an heuristic methodological design. Fourteen subjects, identified as having elder-ful leadership qualities, were interviewed exploring their experience and understanding of the elder role. The literature review includes: a mainstream leadership overview; research on the elder role in Indigenous communities; and a review of the elder role in the process work literature. The research identifies the elder role as an important part of humanity and our wholeness. A bridge is found between Indigenous wisdom and knowing, the process work paradigm and of evolving Western attitude of seeking to understand the interconnectedness of nature, and our place as humans in it. Eldership qualities can be learned and brought forward intentionally with disciplined inner exploration. The role also has powerful transformative potential, supporting the natural self-organization o fa system and provides a way to work with diversity, chaos and conflict when the elder role is present. Thus, it is a key quality in leadership development. The qualities inherent in the elder role have a significant effect on successful conflict transformation and create a deeper understanding of how we can co-create within systems.
Key words: Leadership, leadership development, systems change, system-mind, processmind, deep democracy, Indigenous leadership, elder role, eldership, process work