When a Thousand Flowers Bloom: The Human Side of Leadership from the Gestalt Perspective
Department
WellStar School of Nursing
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2023
Abstract
Successful leaders are the precursors of change and the source of brilliant ideas in any country’s future or global venture. By combining gestalt-related ideas and guidelines, this chapter shows that “good intentions” ahead of personal benefits and indeed ahead of the social realities are crucial. The manner a gestalt group leader puts his/her own time in the perspective of history, character and integrity, wise appointments, and ability to work with allieds and rivals, matters. A case study reflecting on Biblical Joseph’s gestalt analytic work that was rooted in stewardship, service, and divine endowments was utilized. Joseph led from the front with presidential qualities translated to effective business leadership. He had more of a track record to go by and can be rated at the top in comparison with (and perhaps above) Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr., Barrack Obama, and so on. Joseph’s management, maintenance, and governance of his group had many similarities to the principles and practices of gestalt group process. The chapter concludes that by exhibiting these exemplary behaviors, Joseph was a role model, an advocate and an ally for building team spirit and work group inclusion. Thus, reaffirming that Joseph possesses everything we can look for in great and strong leaders. The parallels of this advice for leaders are great. Finally, we discuss the possible implications of our model and direction for future research.
Journal Title
Globalization, Human Rights and Populism: Reimagining People, Power and Places
First Page
789
Last Page
815
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1007/978-3-031-17203-8_38