Theory A: Preliminary Perspectives on an African Model of Leadership

Collapsing Boundaries

The usual barriers that exist between heaven and earth do not exist, nor do the distinctions between self and community hold up when one is considering the role of leadership in African organizations. Furthermore, the boundaries between an organization and the community in which it is located also are very unclear or fluid. It seems that Theory A Leadership ultimately is all about interconnectedness. We now know that all trees in a forest are interconnected with one another through the mycorrhizai network (fungi) that reside in the forest floor (MacFarlane, 2019; Sheldrake, 2021). In a similar manner, we can conceive of leadership in an African organization as being fully interconnected with the needs and functions of the community. Beyond that, the African leader is connected with and works in consort with all aspects of the world and heaven in which the leader is operating. Theory A leadership is sacred in nature and systemic in operation. Just as the fungi serve as the conduit for transmission of energy and nutrients between the trees of the forest, so the religion, culture and heritage of African societies serves as the conduit of effective organizational and community functioning—and leadership—in African societies.

In many ways, this theory of leadership is quite alien from those theories of leadership that prevail in most Western societies –and even many Asian societies (especially those that have been Westernized). Our traditional theories of leadership emphasize the secular nature of organizational life—cleaning out the old and often repressive goblins and ghosts of our medieval past. Organizations should operate as well-oiled machines, with clearly defined operations and criteria of effectiveness.

The modern notions of leadership require that lines of authority and supervision be established and sustained despite the person in charge or the nature of relationships existing among member of the organization (Bergquist, 1993). There is no room in a modern organization for communion with nature. Sloppy and inconsistent boundaries between ones’ organization and one’s community are to be avoided at all costs. Yes, as Western leaders we should be concerned about the environment in which we live and operate. We should keep up good relations with other members of the community in which we reside and operate. But we should never mistake what is occurring inside our organization with what is occurring outside. Theory A challenges these modern day, Western assumption.

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