Inquiry

  While I don’t see myself as an exemplary integral leader, when I was thinking about this forum question, I noted that when dealing with certain problems at my job, I have more or less been forced to take a 4 quadrant approach.  Thus, I thought it might be helpful for some members for me to discuss this as a possible example of integral leadership.  However, I more likely see myself as an integral coordinator.

  As part of my duties for inpatient (hospital) physical rehabilitation patients, I have a weekly meeting with all the people involved in the patient’s care.  The social worker starts by reporting about the patient’s goals, family members and their resources, as well as their financial/job situation, thus covering parts of Quadrants I, II, and Quadrant IV.  Next nursing reports on their medications, pain, lab values, and other physical (Quadrant III) issues, as well as safety and any psycho-social issues (Q III, IV) they have picked up on.  Next, the therapists report on how the patient is progressing functionally and will also do a home evaluation if needed, covering Quadrants III and IV.   I then report on the specifics of any medical and psycho-social issues, or specific patient complaints (QI-IV) and then I sum up how things appear to be doing in all these Quadrants.  Last we form a plan for the next week, based upon this 4 Quadrant data.

  This description is mostly a 3rd person description of what externally goes on, but my 1st person description is quite different.  During the entire meeting when each person reports, I also try and keep in mind the worldview of the person speaking and how it might affect the data they are giving me, as well as directing how I might respond.  In other words, my job is to put all the data presented to me into the context of the whole picture, taking into consideration the worldviews of all the members of the team, the patient, as well as their family, in order to make a plan acceptable to everyone.  In doing this, I try and respect all the worldviews, since to do otherwise would probably just cause dissention among the team members, as well as the patient and their family.

  So, in a way, I’ve been lucky in that for over 25 years I’ve been forced to think in all 4 quadrants.  However, I was not aware that was what I was doing until I joined integral life and through forum questions started doing an integral analysis on various topics. 

A good leader provides a team or organization with vision, values and guidelines. These are critical to helping people make the best possible decisions and operate in a way that advances the company’s relationship advice strategy and objectives. A good leader provides clarity, virgo man, and help in maintaining consistency across people and over time.