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Semiotics, the science of meaning,
codes and communication, is an extremely powerful tool that can help leaders to
be more effective by acquiring the most profound side of leadership: the
building of sense, purpose, and vision, inspiration for the Self and for entire
groups.
In Semiotics, Leadership can be
analyzed in two very different ways:
(1)
“Denotative Analysis” (or “Denotation”): examination of
behaviors, communications, acts, relational styles, the external forms or
“signs” used by leaders to build and convey their leadership, reinforce it, or
simply “act” as leaders (clothing and dress codes, verbal style, non verbal
style, the type of car, the painting on the wall, even the location chosen for a
meeting, and literally anything that can become a “sign” of a personal way of
interpreting leadership);
(2)
“Connotative Analysis” (or “Connotation”): the personal
interpretation of a sign, the internal representation of meaning, the “story”
behind perceivable traits, the evaluation of behaviors as “good”/”bad”, of tasks
as “easy”/”difficult”, of people as “active”/”passive”, and any other
evaluation.
Denotative Analysis should be as much
as possible “objective”, non-judgmental, descriptive, sensorial, refer to
perceived signs without any attempt to judge it, while Connotation, on the
contrary, is and must be the judgmental side, seeking to extract the “sense” of
any sign, evaluate it, confront its essence with values, beliefs, and even
personal norms.
The work I conducted during 30 years
of research and practice identifies the 6 main “vectors” that leaders use in
generating both their internal world-views and their external communication.
The Exa-Leadership models derives its
name from the word Six (Exa) in Greek language. In this model, Leadership is a
holistic spectrum that can arise from:
(1)
higher levels of attribution of meaning to physical power, which produces
external communication signs or “power display”, acts, behaviors, or symbols
used to display power and control others, show force superiority, ability to
generate fear, and seek group-member's need for a powerful group protector or
Alpha Leader (Primal Leadership),
(2)
attribution of meaning connected to the display of superior mental
energies, superior motivational forces, being energetic and smart, motivated and
mentally tough, an attitude perceivable in communication and behaviors, such as
lack of fear, display of courage, determination, resistance and resilience, lack
of anxiety, drive to action (Psychoenergetic Leadership),
(3)
higher meanings attributing to managing the overall picture, showing a
high level of skills across very different areas and fields of knowledge (Macro-Leadership),
(4)
higher meanings attributed to being extremely good in highly specialized
tasks, without need to getting the whole picture (Micro-Leadership),
(5)
higher meaning attributed to display power and ability in managing the
perfect execution of a task (Project Leadership), and
(6)
higher level of meanings attributed to values, wisdom, and spirituality (Spiritual
Leadership).
Any company places expectations and
very often lots of money on shaping public opinion’s views about how it wishes
to be perceived.
Perception Engineering is really the
effort of shaping and manipulating perceptions by scientifically placing and
choosing the right “Signs” that can convey the right “Perception” in a given
target audience, or change it strategically.
Any Leader and any company derives its
specific Leadership Style and Behaviors from a unique mix of one or more of the
six factors.
Further Key Concepts of the book by Trevisani,
Daniele (2015). Semiotics for Leaders. The Exa-Leadership Model for
Leadership and Human Potential Development, Medialab Research Publishing,
Ferrara. ISBN: 978-1-329-59007-6.
Amazon link to the book
• Home •
• Semiotics as The Science of Leaders •
• Leadership Power Profiles and Signs •
• Exa-Leadership Specific Profiles •
• Bioenergetic Primal Leaders •
• Psychoenergetic & Psychological Leaders •
• Micro Leaders •
• Macro Leaders •
• Project Leaders •
• Spiritual Leaders •
• Fully Empowered Leaders •
• 6 Levels Model of Personal Develoment •
©Copyright
Daniele Trevisani & Medialab Research
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