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The Vacuum in Adult Education: Who Will Lead?

The Vacuum in Adult Education: Who Will Lead? DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH ThroUghout this century, would be to analyze behaviors. most efficacious ways of training tions. The notion of transforma­ leadership has been an important Thus, leadership was not solely a leader-managers. One of the ad­ tional leadership does introduce topic for research and discussion. psychological function, but was vantages of the early transactional the idea of more fundamental The central questions for research observable. An outgrowth of this view of leadership was that it was change, but at this point, the have dealt with what are the research has been the develop­ seen as a skill that could be ac­ model is sketchy and the training qualities of leaders; how can we ment of different leadership quired. Drawing from the litera­ of such leaders not far from the identify these qualities; and then models, which try to understand ture of adult development, leader­ early twentieth century model of how can we foster them in prom­ the development of the individual ship training was conceptualized a basic liberal arts education. ising individuals. Because of space leader within the particular as a series of stages with a logical Certainly, much of the research progression, starting with needs limitations, it will be possible only organization. Thus, leadership is applicable to adult educators to discuss the leadership research came to be seen as a relationship assessments. Trainers in this area trying to develop new strategies as an abstract concept. between people, and as such it have pioneered in differing methods, with decreasing resources. But, to In the 1980s, leadership became could be learned. including the top-down and give just one example, these the new buzzword. Faced with Researchers next began to bottom-up approaches. The fol­ models offer little for those seek­ perceptions of American decline, focus on the nature of the interac­ lowing content areas have been ing to understand the leadership Tom Peters and others championed tion between the leader and the found to be the most important: vacuum in adult education; the follower, seeing leadership as a giving feedback to employees; a movement calling for a return continuing marginality of the to "excellence." This excellence dynamic process. Different models delegation of responsibilities; im­ field, and the concomitant lack of involved a restoration of concern have been advanced such as the provement of listening skills; im­ resources from government. The for the customer and an emphasis leader-role theory (where individual provement of personal leadership models do not include a clear on innovation that could only be characteristics interact with the effectiveness; and the encourage­ shift in purpose or values. In fact, achieved through leadership. situation to allow a leader to ment of participation. shared values are frequently viewed Thus, leadership lies at the emerge). Finally, a brief word on women, as an integral part of leadership core of administration and In the 1980s an alternative minorities, and cross-cultural effectiveness. Imagination and in­ management, involving many paradigm of leadership took hold studies. Feminists first thought novation are still tied to the status that focused on transformational aspects of good administration, that women would bring a new quo. Programs designed to foster leadership. Breaking with the no­ style of leadership. They would be but going beyond these to include broader leadership skills are often tion of an exchange between "vision" about the future. Adult collegial, better listeners, more vague. Religious groups, for exam­ leader and follower, the transfor­ and continuing educators have relational, and would ultimately ple, often develop leadership pro­ mational leader asked followers to change corporate America. But, picked up on this notion of "vi­ grams where the principal activity go beyond their own self-interest the data are mixed. Some research sion" and its concomitant tenet is the development of commit­ for the common good. The effec­ indicates that women managers that leadership must take place at ment and where the process of all levels of an organization with­ tive leader enpowers or enables can be different, but as a whole, identification as a leader confers others to innovate. Writers here no clear differences emerge. Some out fully acknowledging the limits status. of the research in this area. emphasize the importance of research suggests that women Likewise, after World War II Until the 1940s, research focused vision and the ability to commu­ have different communication leadership became a central issue on the identification of specific nicate this vision. This view skills, are more personal, and of adult educators. Certainly the traits exhibited by leaders. As has denies the previous emphasis on have different reactions to conflict work of the fund for Adult Educa­ been pointed out, much of what the hierarchial nature of organ­ and uses of power. tion and of Paul Sheats, Paul is involved in the "great men" izations and the innate power of The research on minorities in­ Essert, and others focused on the aproach to history, has really position within an institution. cluding African Americans, His­ development of community leader­ been studies in leadership. Look­ There is much talk of vision, but panics, and Asian Americans is ship. In addition, adult educators ing at greatness as the influencing little understanding about how to even scantier. The research to date were pioneers in the area of sen­ of history, historians have tried to foster it. Certainly, the issue of vi­ has examined the issues of bias sitivity traning through the Na­ identify and analyze the factors sion within an organization with and stereotyping. Cross-cultural tional Training Laboratory. Yet, as that led, say, Abraham Lincoln to definite goals, is quite different studies indicate that the interac­ with the rest of the field, adult from trying to develop vision tion between leader and follower take the stands he took. The cen­ educators have abandoned the within a field, without an organ­ tral precept was that leaders were is different in different cultures; broader issues involved in leader­ izational structure. actions have different meanings; born, not made, and that the task ship to focus on what was was to identify leaders and the Thus, leadership training ef­ and so, interpersonal relationships formerly administration. While forts are widespread and highly are quite different. traits that made them tick. this is important, it is unlikely researched, but again they focus In the United States, leadership The next generation of research­ that this approach will have much ers found that the number of on the "effectiveness" of those research has been preoccupied by impact on the issues facing adult traits was infinite and determined trained. With these limits, there the examination of the function education today. • that a more fruitful approach has been much research into the or interaction within organiza- -by Amy Rose 6 6 Adult Learning http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Adult Learning SAGE

The Vacuum in Adult Education: Who Will Lead?

Rose, Amy
Adult Learning , Volume 3 (3): 1 – Nov 1, 1991
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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 1991 American Association for Adult and Continuing Education
ISSN
1045-1595
eISSN
2162-4070
DOI
10.1177/104515959100300303
Publisher site
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Abstract

DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH ThroUghout this century, would be to analyze behaviors. most efficacious ways of training tions. The notion of transforma­ leadership has been an important Thus, leadership was not solely a leader-managers. One of the ad­ tional leadership does introduce topic for research and discussion. psychological function, but was vantages of the early transactional the idea of more fundamental The central questions for research observable. An outgrowth of this view of leadership was that it was change, but at this point, the have dealt with what are the research has been the develop­ seen as a skill that could be ac­ model is sketchy and the training qualities of leaders; how can we ment of different leadership quired. Drawing from the litera­ of such leaders not far from the identify these qualities; and then models, which try to understand ture of adult development, leader­ early twentieth century model of how can we foster them in prom­ the development of the individual ship training was conceptualized a basic liberal arts education. ising individuals. Because of space leader within the particular as a series of stages with a logical Certainly, much of the research progression, starting with needs limitations, it will be possible only organization. Thus, leadership is applicable to adult educators to discuss the leadership research came to be seen as a relationship assessments. Trainers in this area trying to develop new strategies as an abstract concept. between people, and as such it have pioneered in differing methods, with decreasing resources. But, to In the 1980s, leadership became could be learned. including the top-down and give just one example, these the new buzzword. Faced with Researchers next began to bottom-up approaches. The fol­ models offer little for those seek­ perceptions of American decline, focus on the nature of the interac­ lowing content areas have been ing to understand the leadership Tom Peters and others championed tion between the leader and the found to be the most important: vacuum in adult education; the follower, seeing leadership as a giving feedback to employees; a movement calling for a return continuing marginality of the to "excellence." This excellence dynamic process. Different models delegation of responsibilities; im­ field, and the concomitant lack of involved a restoration of concern have been advanced such as the provement of listening skills; im­ resources from government. The for the customer and an emphasis leader-role theory (where individual provement of personal leadership models do not include a clear on innovation that could only be characteristics interact with the effectiveness; and the encourage­ shift in purpose or values. In fact, achieved through leadership. situation to allow a leader to ment of participation. shared values are frequently viewed Thus, leadership lies at the emerge). Finally, a brief word on women, as an integral part of leadership core of administration and In the 1980s an alternative minorities, and cross-cultural effectiveness. Imagination and in­ management, involving many paradigm of leadership took hold studies. Feminists first thought novation are still tied to the status that focused on transformational aspects of good administration, that women would bring a new quo. Programs designed to foster leadership. Breaking with the no­ style of leadership. They would be but going beyond these to include broader leadership skills are often tion of an exchange between "vision" about the future. Adult collegial, better listeners, more vague. Religious groups, for exam­ leader and follower, the transfor­ and continuing educators have relational, and would ultimately ple, often develop leadership pro­ mational leader asked followers to change corporate America. But, picked up on this notion of "vi­ grams where the principal activity go beyond their own self-interest the data are mixed. Some research sion" and its concomitant tenet is the development of commit­ for the common good. The effec­ indicates that women managers that leadership must take place at ment and where the process of all levels of an organization with­ tive leader enpowers or enables can be different, but as a whole, identification as a leader confers others to innovate. Writers here no clear differences emerge. Some out fully acknowledging the limits status. of the research in this area. emphasize the importance of research suggests that women Likewise, after World War II Until the 1940s, research focused vision and the ability to commu­ have different communication leadership became a central issue on the identification of specific nicate this vision. This view skills, are more personal, and of adult educators. Certainly the traits exhibited by leaders. As has denies the previous emphasis on have different reactions to conflict work of the fund for Adult Educa­ been pointed out, much of what the hierarchial nature of organ­ and uses of power. tion and of Paul Sheats, Paul is involved in the "great men" izations and the innate power of The research on minorities in­ Essert, and others focused on the aproach to history, has really position within an institution. cluding African Americans, His­ development of community leader­ been studies in leadership. Look­ There is much talk of vision, but panics, and Asian Americans is ship. In addition, adult educators ing at greatness as the influencing little understanding about how to even scantier. The research to date were pioneers in the area of sen­ of history, historians have tried to foster it. Certainly, the issue of vi­ has examined the issues of bias sitivity traning through the Na­ identify and analyze the factors sion within an organization with and stereotyping. Cross-cultural tional Training Laboratory. Yet, as that led, say, Abraham Lincoln to definite goals, is quite different studies indicate that the interac­ with the rest of the field, adult from trying to develop vision tion between leader and follower take the stands he took. The cen­ educators have abandoned the within a field, without an organ­ tral precept was that leaders were is different in different cultures; broader issues involved in leader­ izational structure. actions have different meanings; born, not made, and that the task ship to focus on what was was to identify leaders and the Thus, leadership training ef­ and so, interpersonal relationships formerly administration. While forts are widespread and highly are quite different. traits that made them tick. this is important, it is unlikely researched, but again they focus In the United States, leadership The next generation of research­ that this approach will have much ers found that the number of on the "effectiveness" of those research has been preoccupied by impact on the issues facing adult traits was infinite and determined trained. With these limits, there the examination of the function education today. • that a more fruitful approach has been much research into the or interaction within organiza- -by Amy Rose 6 6 Adult Learning

Journal

Adult Learning – SAGE

Published: Nov 1, 1991

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