Modern and Postmodern Leadership

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The paradigm shift from modern to postmodern thinking in the twentieth century characterizes conceptual shifts in a number of related areas: society and social structure, roles, subjectivity and agency, knowledge, space and time, causality, and social change (Milovanovic). Furthermore, it affects the thinking in multiple arenas, from the practicalùleadershipùto the spiritual and aestheticùreligion and art. In simple terms, modernist thought is characterized by a strong belief in rational thought and inquiry, due process of law, abstract rights and freedoms for all, and science (ôModernist vs. Postmodernist Thoughtö). Postmodernist thought is characterized by a distrust of and departure from most of the beliefs embraced by modernists, viewing traditional thought as flawed and the orderly ideas of the universe as only one aspect of thought rather than the definitive truth; where modernists see the universe as predictable and quantifiable, postmodernists see it as neither (ôModernist vs. Postmodernist Thoughtö). In essence, the modernist believes that there is only one foundation that critical theory can be based on, whereas the postmodernist believes that there are many foundations (Grassie). Modernism holds to traditional systems of philosophy, religion, and morality, and postmodernism is antithetical to those systems (ôPostmodernismö).

Two of the pivotal concepts that distinguish modernist from postmodernist thought are continuity and

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oo solid, you will lose the people you are trying to bring alone in their walk of faith û it will backfire on you (1). OÆKeefeÆs description of how the postmodern leader should function, by just being an example with all of oneÆs flaws showing, carries implications for the way he leads his people, as well. This leader does not give people functions; he lets them function (OÆKeefe, 1). He does not set himself up as an expert above his people; he rolls up his sleeves and serves along with them (OÆKeefe, 1). People need access to the leader, and the postmodern leader allows that access instead of couching himself in several layers of protective administrators that run interference for him and limit the access of the people to him (OÆKeefe, 1). OÆKeefe asserts that ômodern leadership is relatively selfish,ö having ôthe main goal of modern leadershipö as making the leader look good (1). Postmodern leadership, on the other hand, he characterizes as being founded in ôtrust and communityö and having the main purpose of ômaking the community look goodö (OÆKeefe, 1). There are no rule books for postmodern leadership. It is a try-it-as-you-go philosophy. OÆKeefe expresses this quality by saying ôOne of the realities I face as a post
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Links Below, John OÆKeefe, Grassie Modernism, Boje Prieto, Servant Leadership, Retrieved November, Boje Dennehy, Milovanovic Furthermore, Thoughtö Postmodernist, Postmodern Leadership, retrieved november, november 10, november 10 2005, retrieved november 10, 10 2005, postmodern leadership, postmodern leader, oÆkeefe 1, boje prieto, prieto xxix modern, xxix modern, boje prieto xxix, prieto xxix, modern postmodern, modern postmodern leadership,
Approximate Word count = 1790
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

Modern and Postmodern Leadership

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