The swift and alert Dragonfly has evolved over three hundred million years, on every continent and in every color of the rainbow. Dragonflies are extraordinarily nimble and responsive to threats and opportunities, have the dexterity to fly in all six directions and has vision in 360 degrees. Flexible in the environment, they can live in water in the nymph stage for years until the right time to transform into adult form. They have four independent wings, each capable of achieving autonomous motion; and combine synchronously in interdependent-collaboration to create an agility and mobility in direction and alignment that humans can only dream about.
Across the globe the dragonfly symbolizes change, broad perspective and self-realization; and the kind of transformation sourced in mental and emotional maturity, depth of character, power and poise.
DAC head
Direction, Alignment and Commitment are the three outcomes of relational leadership in the culture. DAC is driven by the type of beliefs and practices shared between leadership in the collective.
Vertical “SNOWMAN” body
So named by clients the snowman, positioned here as segments of the dragonfly body, are the Vertical stages of Leadership Culture. When developed, complex organizations can use all three culture types simultaneously for varying purposes in different parts of an organization. Interdependent-Collaboration is usually needed in senior leadership, business operations and supply chain management and R&D. Independent-Achiever culture is regularly used in sales and marketing functions. Dependent-Conformer cultures are frequently required in accounting, order fulfillment/delivery, security and facilities management. In large organizations it is not unusual for a function like IT to seek all three culture types across one department simultaneously. Many types of direction, alignment and commitment are required in various locations in order to hold innovation, performance and efficiency coinciding.
CHANGE Leadership wings
The change and transformation framework requires the understanding, alignment and execution of both Change Leadership and Change Management simultaneously. Change Management includes all of the external Outside-In, operational systems, structures and processes that must be put in place to execute the business strategy. Change Leadership includes all of the internal Inside-Out leadership approach and capabilities that are required to enact the business strategy; and these include beliefs and assumptions, imagination and creativity, emotions and mindset and the human spirit. A leadership strategy is a corollary in balance with the business strategy. Our research on Change Leadership reveals that the kind of direction, alignment, and commitment (DAC) that leadership gets is driven by the kind of Leadership Culture beliefs held in common that drive those results.