Transforming leadership: reflective practice and the enhancement of happiness

• Published in: Reflective practice 2010-02, Vol.11 (1), p.9-18
• Main Author: Rosenberg, Lilli Ruth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: appreciative inquiry; Bias; Creativity; ethical leadership; Ethics; Happiness; Leadership; Organizational change; reflective practice; transformational leadership
• ISSN: 1462-3943; 1470-1103
• DOI: 10.1080/14623940903525207

Happiness, reflective practice and ethical leadership are interrelated. This paper begins with a discussion about change, since the impact of accelerated change requires leadership responses that are constantly evolving. The second section explores the incorporation of reflective practice in leadership efforts, and the need for constant adaptability and creativity in leadership decisions. Reflective practice serves to identify implicit questions. Exposure of implicit questions, which are often personally biased and limiting, provides opportunities for expanding perspective and generating options. Questions, whether implicit or explicit, guide the direction of change. The importance and relevance for developing awareness of implicit questions is to encourage the ability to generate new, often more conscious, explicit questions. The third section examines how the innate desire for happiness leads to and flows from our deepest questions and concerns. The final section reveals how one function of reflective practice is the cultivation of happiness. Ultimately happiness is a dynamic state which enhances personal and organizational change processes. Transformational and ethical characteristics are intrinsic to this dynamic state.