In an interdisciplinary exploration of the meaning of leadership during the transition of presidential administrations, three CAS faculty members – Virginia Sapiro, Diane Mello-Goldner, and Biology’s own James Traniello – were recently interviewed to share their perspectives on this timely question. Each shared their unique views on the essence of leadership, as well as the complexities of identifying “what makes a good leader” and what traits of individual and social organization yield success.
Dr. Traniello calls upon his research experience in the sociobiology and behavioral ecology of insects and his understanding of the evolution of human behavior to emphasize that problem-solving and achieving effective results are not always derived from centralized and hierarchical power. He applies this evolutionary perspective on the organization of complex societies to reflect on the characteristics of human behavior often used to define leadership. Citing “collective intelligence,” which concerns decentralized group decision-making, as the predominant reason for the extraordinary success of social insects, he explains how the leadership attributes humans valued in the deep history of Homo sapiens may differ from modern-day leadership qualities required to meet social needs.
Click here to read the full article!
Click here to read the full article!