Leadership Models & Practice: KLC, Bion, and BE KNOW DO
This note synthesizes core models and concepts from a leadership development program, providing a framework for self-management, organizational diagnosis, and skilful intervention.
1. Foundational Leadership Principles
Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) Principles
The KLC framework defines leadership not by position but by activity, emphasizing that anyone can lead, anytime, anywhere. The core principle is:
Leadership is an activity, not a position.
This concept distinguishes between Authority (a granted position of power used for direction, order, and protection, often handling technical problems) and Leadership (an activity of mobilizing people to seize opportunities and make progress on tough, adaptive challenges).
BE KNOW DO Leadership Model
Originating with the U.S. Army, this model provides a holistic view of the leader, focusing on three foundational pillars:
- BE (Attributes): Character. This is about who the leader is. It includes internal values, ethics, and moral courage—the foundation for trust.
- KNOW (Attributes): Competence/Intellect. This is about what the leader knows. It includes technical skills, interpersonal skills, and conceptual thinking (the ability to see the bigger picture and contextualise the teacher or individual’s role within the strategic vision).
- DO (Competencies): Action. This is about what the leader does. Leaders bring their being and knowing together to provide purpose, direction, and motivation through actions like influencing, operating, and improving.
2. Diagnosing Group Dynamics (Bion)
Wilfred Bion’s Basic Assumptions
The British psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion proposed that groups operate on two levels: the Work Group (focused on the task and reality) and the Basic Assumption Group (driven by unconscious emotions and anxiety). When anxiety is high, groups regress into one of three irrational “basic assumptions” to relieve the stress, thereby avoiding the real work:
- Dependency (BaD): The group believes the leader is omnipotent and omniscient, waiting passively for them to relieve anxiety by taking control. They externalize responsibility, seeing the leader as a saviour.
- Fight/Flight (BaF): The group unites to confront or escape a perceived threat.
- Fight: The group becomes oppositional or aggressive toward an internal or external target (often a scapegoat) to manage tension.
- Flight: The group seeks safety by avoiding the task (e.g., through excessive discussion, bureaucracy, or distraction) to relieve anxiety.
- (Note: The third assumption, Pairing, is seeking salvation through a future, unborn idea or leader.)
Leaders must manage Bion’s Flight dynamic by providing calm authority and creating safety and focus so the group can return to the Work Group task.
3. Reflective Practice & Intervention
Manage Self (KLC Competency)
Effective leadership requires emotional awareness and regulation, especially when addressing Adaptive Challenges:
- Emotional Challenge: Stepping up to the line means accepting challenges even when feeling uncomfortable (“butterflies”).
- Skill: This requires deliberate Resilience Practice and a consistent effort to manage your vulnerabilities and triggers (as per KLC).
Intervene Skilfully (KLC Competency)
Intervention focuses on accountability and growth:
| Leadership Behavior | Focus Area | Actionable Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Management | Communicate Expectations | Establish daily meetings; use Agile check-ins (“What are we working on?”). |
| Accountability | Foster Culture | Reinforcement of expectations; use 1:1s for difficult conversations (e.g., preparing for conversations about return-to-work policies). |
| Guidance vs. Autonomy | Team Development | Provide autonomy by letting people find work in areas they seek; give feed back on performance; ensure team support is present. |
References
- Kansas Leadership Center Framework (KLC)
- [U.S. Army Leadership Requirements Model (BE KNOW DO)](Note: A specific external link to the Field Manual is not provided, but the concept is well-documented in the search results.)
- [Wilfred Bion’s Basic Assumptions in Group Dynamics](Note: An academic source on Bion’s theory is necessary for a final Evergreen note.)