Talanoa 2: A Critique of Traditional Paradigms—Are Management and Leadership Still Fit for Purpose?

Kamataaga - Introduction

In our previous talanoa,"Introduction to Servantship: Framing a Collective Philosophy for Global Challenges," we briefly explored the paradigms of management, leadership and servantship, concluding that collective philosophies like servantship offer a more sustainable approach to addressing complex global challenges. Jerome Makapatama and Maria Taufelila, both Systems Weavers at FakaFekauaga Catalyst (FFC), continue this exploration by critically examining the limitations of traditional management and leadership paradigms. Drawing from their extensive lived experiences and community engagement, they guide us through a dialogue that sheds light on why these traditional approaches fall short in the face of interconnected global issues.

Welcome back.  Fofola e potu, lets rollout the mat and talanoa.

The Complexity of Global Challenges

From our perspective, global issues like climate change and poverty are multifaceted, cutting across social, economic and environmental dimensions. Traditional management practices, in our opinion, tend to focus narrowly on efficiency and control, often prioritising short-term operational goals over deeper, systemic solutions. We believe this limited focus exacerbates cycles of inequality and environmental degradation, failing to yield sustainable, long-term outcomes.

Limitations of management:

• Focus on efficiency over adaptability: In our critique, management paradigms often excel in maintaining stability and achieving short-term goals. However, we observe that this focus on structure can lead to inflexibility, which hampers an organisation’s ability to respond to dynamic and unpredictable global challenges.

  
  

• Short-term orientation: We assert that the traditional emphasis on short-term gains overlooks broader impacts, such as long-term environmental sustainability and social equity. This short-sighted approach, in our opinion, prevent organisations from attending to root causes and supporting the ongoing evolution of systems and relationships.

  
  

• Hierarchical structures: In our view, hierarchical decision-making can stifle creativity and innovation by concentrating authority at the top, limiting the flow of diverse perspectives that are crucial for generating fresh ideas and solutions.

  
  

Limitations of leadership:

• Dependency on individual charisma: While leadership can be inspiring, we argue that reliance on charismatic individuals may result in unsustainable systems. In our opinion, leadership that relies heavily on a singular vision may not support the natural evolution that nurtures communities and organisations as a whole.

• Risk of short-termism: We believe that leadership paradigms focused on visionary initiatives may tend to prioritise short-term, high-visibility outcomes, sidelining the broader community engagement and ownership necessary for long-term, sustainable development.

  
  

Advocating for Servantship

In contrast, we advocate for an alternative approach: servantship. In our opinion, servantship nurtures collective well-being, relational responsibilities and the ongoing evolution of practices. It is a framework that fosters resilience and adaptive capacity within communities and organisations, aligning more closely with the complex, interdependent nature of today’s global issues. We believe that servantship’s emphasis on empathy, stewardship and collaborative decision-making offers a more inclusive and effective model for addressing these challenges.

Fakaotiaga - Conclusion 

From our standpoint, the limitations of traditional management and leadership paradigms are becoming increasingly apparent in the face of today’s global challenges. As we confront the complexities of issues such as climate change, poverty and inequality, we argue that a paradigm shift towards servantship is not just desirable, but essential. In our next piece, we will explore the overproduction of managers and leaders and discuss why fostering servantship is key to sustainable and collective well-being.

We believe that as the dynamics of leadership and management continue to evolve, the greatest challenge lies in confronting the status quo, stepping out of comfort zones and embracing evolution as a natural catalyst for growth.

Please join us on the mat next time.

Talanoa 3: The Overproduction of Managers and Leaders: A Call for more Servants

Date: November 2024

About the Authors, Weavers and Facilitators

Maria Taufelila, a matriarch, wife, mother, sister and elder, was raised in Fakafekauaga by her grandparents, Vailima and Makapa Ikipe. As a devoted servant in her village of Vaiea and within her family, Maria has long facilitated and woven together village responsibilities, providing steadfast support to village elders. Her professional journey has included management roles and business development, culminating in her graduation from Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Social Science.

Jerome Makapatama brings a unique perspective to the talanoa on servantship and collective philosophies. As a Systems Weaver at FakaFekauaga Catalyst (FFCt), Jerome's insights are grounded in his upbringing, extensive lived experience and engagement with community dynamics. His reflections are drawn from firsthand observations and a commitment to understanding the evolving challenges faced by individuals and communities alike.

Reference

Our gratitude and acknowledgment - Fakaue lahi mahaki

In our Niuean oral culture, knowledge acquisition is deeply rooted in the tradition of observing our elders engaging with one another and our environment, gathering around our matua (parents) and tupuna (elders/grandparents) and attentively listening to their stories. Through this immersive experience, we each embark on a personal journey of sense-making, receiving and embracing the wisdom shared in these dialogues, known as talanoa.

In a departure from the rigid conventions of Western academic writing, where referencing and quoting are paramount, we intentionally embrace a more fluid approach, returning to our oral and cultural traditions. While acknowledging the great influence of specific elders or individuals who have shaped our thinking, we invite you to embark on your version of talanoa by engaging with the written works left behind by these wise sages. In simple terms, read them yourselves or seek out their audience to listen and derive your own meaning. By doing so, as we have done, you can forge a connection with their wisdom, assimilate knowledge and craft your own unique interpretations. We believe this process will empower you to cultivate a deep understanding, encapsulating the essence of talanoa while fostering an appreciation for the diverse perspectives available to us in our villages, communities, cities and worldwide. And so, we offer heartfelt gratitude and deep appreciation in humble tribute to the revered elders and invaluable individuals below who have influenced our emotional and intellectual landscape, instilling wisdom and guiding our pens to express our thoughts and interpretations of their multi-layered insights:

• First and foremost – all of our magafaoa (families) and elders (matua/tupuna).

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