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CHAPTER 7: FOLLOWERSHIP 215
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cannot exist without diversity. However, community focuses on the whole rather
than the parts, and people emphasize what binds them together. People can speak
honestly when their convictions differ from others. This courage often stems from
the belief in the inherent equality between themselves, other followers, and their
leaders—that is, wholeness.

Positive Culture Leaders and followers perceive the organization as a commu-
nity with shared norms and values. Members care about newcomers and work to
socialize them into the culture. In addition, effective communities are not insu-
lar. They encourage adaptive values that help the group or organization interact
effectively with a dynamic environment.

Conversation Conversation is how people make and share the meanings that are
the basis of community. One special type of communication, dialogue, means that Dialogue
Dialogue
a type of communication in
each person suspends his attachment to a particular viewpoint so that a deeper a type of communication in
which each person suspends
level of listening, synthesis, and meaning evolves from the whole community. Indi- which each person suspends
his attachment to a particular
his attachment to a particular
vidual differences are acknowledged and respected, but the group searches for an viewpoint so that a deeper
viewpoint so that a deeper
level of listening, synthesis, and
expanded collective perspective. Chapter 9 explains dialogue more thoroughly. level of listening, synthesis, and
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meaning evolves from the whole
Only through conversation can people build collaboration and collective action meaning evolves from the whole
community
community
so they move together on a common path.
Caring and Trust Members of a community genuinely care about one another.
People consider how their actions affect others and the community as a whole. In
addition, members accept others and help them grow without trying to control
them, strive to understand others’ viewpoints and problems, and have empathy
for others. Trust is developed from caring relationships and an emphasis on ethi-
cal behavior that serves the interests of the whole.
Shared Leadership In a community, a leader is one among many equals. People
do not try to control others, and anyone can step forward as a leader. There is a
spirit of equality, and everyone has an opportunity to make a valued contribution.
Like plugs of zoysia grass planted far apart that eventually meld together into a
beautiful carpet of lawn, leaders and followers who join in a true community
meld together to make good things happen. 68

Communities of Practice
One way in which people can build a sense of community in organizations is by
enabling and supporting communities of practice. Communities of practice often
form spontaneously in organizations as people gravitate toward others who share
their interests and face similar problems.
Communities of practice are made up of individuals who are informally bound to Communities of practice
Communities of practice
made up of individuals who are
one another through exposure to a similar set of problems and a common pursuit made up of individuals who are
informally bound to one another
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of solutions. For example, a community of practice might be customer service informally bound to one another
through exposure to a similar
through exposure to a similar
technicians at Dell Computer Corp. who share tips around the water cooler, a set of problems and a common
set of problems and a common
pursuit of solutions

district sales office that has a goal of being the top district offi ce in the country, pursuit of solutions
or people located in various departments of a social services agency who share
an interest in computer games. Communities of practice are similar to profes-
sional societies—people join them and stay in them by choice, because they think
they have something to learn and something to contribute. Communities of prac-
tice are, by their nature, informal and voluntary. However, anyone can spur the
creation of a community of practice simply by purposefully developing personal
relationships and facilitating relationships among others throughout the organi-
zation who share common interests or goals.