Analyzing the Function of Creative and Critical Thought in the Evolution of Leadership

By Dr. Andree Swanson In the world of leadership and management training, new managers must take a systems approach to analyze the needs of the organization. To develop an effective management-training program, an incoming leader needs to have a wealth of information at his or her fingertips. Through a systems analysis approach, the new training leader will be a motivator, coach, guide, collaborator, mentor and teacher to all members of the company. In addition, leaders must be visionaries, resilient to the ever-changing global economy that exists today, thus, they must know how to gather resources and know how to tap into knowledge. “Leaders are consumers of information” (Poet, 2003). This approach is what enabled this writer to develop a managing training program for a national rental company. Through critical and creative leadership, and an understanding of what Vaill (1996, p. 14) called “Permanent White Water”, this author will define: a. critical thi