SOCIOLOGY

Sociology and Social Change in Today's World

Sociology and Social Change in Today's World

Social Change Model of Leadership Development

The social change model of leadership development provides a framework for understanding and facilitating the phenomenon of the leadership process, and is particularly appropriate for explaining how students engage with one another when participating in social change behaviors. Specifically, the social change model describes a path for enhancing self-knowledge and leadership competence through three individual values, three group values, and a societal value of Citizenship. All seven values contribute to an eighth value of Change. An individual can engage the values at any point within the model (Cilente, 2009, p. 57).

The social change model of leadership development is grounded in the assumption that leadership is a process with outcomes that should improve social conditions in society. This model reflects the notion of leader-follower shared purpose of transforming leadership, but significantly extends it and other conceptual leadership frameworks outlining both individual and group values necessary for creating change. Kezar et al. (2006) offer the social change model as an example of empowerment, which they define as the practice of sharing power and enabling constituents to act on issues they feel are important and relevant (Kezar et al., 2006, p. 11 )



Individual Values

The first three individual values are consciousness of self, congruence, and commitment. Knowledge within this domain contributes to one's capacity to learning and demonstrating the group values. Embracing the values within the individual domain of the model requires a person to do the inner work of honest reflection, clarification of one's purpose, and dedication towards participating in the leadership process. The first value, Consciousness of self, is an awareness of both the static and dynamic dimensions of one's identity. This includes thoughtful consideration of personal motivation, interest, values, beliefs, and dimensions of social identity. A person practicing this value is aware of the components that make up his or her personality and internal state in response to what is occurring around him or her at any given moment. Congruence and Commitment are closely related. One's internal values and stated intentions consistently reflected through outward behaviors facilitate trustworthiness and portray the value of Congruence. Commitment brings together the first two individual values and is sustained through strong personal passion towards a cause. Gaining competence within the individual values increases one's ability to engage the group and societal values (Kerkhoff & Ostick, 2009, p. 365).

Group Values

Collaboration is both an ideal and a behavior. Group members consciously come together, through their relationships with one another, and direct their thoughts and actions to work together toward a shared outcome. More than any other social change model value, Collaboration makes explicit the need for leaders to work interpedently. Common Purpose is what attracts individuals into groups, and fuels a desire to work together. The notion of a shared and agreed upon outcome is a common thread of most post-industrial leadership models and definitions (Komives et ...