Redesigning Leadership

WhendesignerandcomputerscientistJohnMaedawastappedtobepresidentofthecelebratedRhodeIslandSchoolofDesignin2008,hehadtolearnhowtobealeaderquickly.Hehadtotransformhimselffromatenuredprofessor--withaloveofargumentforargument'ssakeandthefreedomtoexperiment--intotheheadofahierarchicalorganization.Theprofessorisfreetospeakhismindagainst"theman."Thecollegepresidentis"theman."Maedahashadtoteachhimself,throughtrialanderror,aboutleadership.InRedesigningLeadership,heshareshislearningprocess.Maeda,writingasanartistanddesigner,atechnologist,andaprofessor,discussesintuitionandrisk-taking,"transparency,"andallthethingsthataconversationcandothatanemailcan't.InhistransitionfromMITtoRISDhefindsthatthemosteffectivewaytopullpeopletogetherisnotsocialnetworkingbutfreefood.Leadingateam?Thebestwayforaleadertoleveragethecollectivepowerofateamistorevealhisorherownhumanity.Askedifhehasstoppeddesigning,Maedareplied(viaTwitter)"I'mdesigninghowtotalkabout/with/forour#RISDcommunity."Maeda'screativenaturemakeshimadifferentsortofleader--onewhoprizesexperimentation,honestcritique,andlearningasyougo.WithRedesigningLeadership,heuseshisexperiencetorevealanewmodelofleadershipforthenextgenerationofleaders.