Eclectic thinkers like their counter parts eclectic philosophers and deep thinkers are bright and inquisitive.  While they tend to be introspective it doesn’t appear to be a necessity.  Why is being an eclectic thinker and important skill for leadership (or at least having access to one)?  Eclectic thinkers are the “mavens” who not only have valuable information at their fingertips, they possess the ability to filter through today’s noise and create meaning from that data.  While eclectic thinkers may have an agenda and strive to influence the thinking of others, it is not about right or wrong.  The ultimate objective is to stretch our thinking to consider broader possibilities.

The 5 core skills to develop your eclectic thinking are:

1. Stay ahead of the curve (continually evolve and reinvent yourself)
2. Honor your core expertise (listen to your own heart)
3. Read veraciously (particularly the classics)
4. Investigate all sources (challenge everything especially yourself)
5. Establish context and meaning  (to begin the process of dialogue and not debate)

Example - Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Rosabeth Moss Kanter would  not have been my first choice to use as an Eclectic Thinker – Charles Handy and Margaret Wheatley come to mind more readily.  However, Kanter has popped up on my radar screen twice in the last couple of weeks.  She wrote an excellent blog post for the Harvard Business Review entitled:  Tiger Woods and the Coming Decline of Celebrity Endorsements.  What is interesting about this post is that it is not about Tiger Woods or marketing ploys but about the values dimension that a corporation has decided to represent.  Kanter goes through a number of organizations and shows how consistency in their values is now a public necessity.

I have always enjoyed reading the work of Rosabeth Moss Kanter  I first knew of her when around 1982 I read Men and Women of the Corporation (1977).   With over 18 books to her credit she constantly reinvents herself in order to stay ahead of the curve while (I believe) being consistent in her views.  By her own admission, she researches extensively and I can only assume she is a constant reader.  She remains true to her core  as indicated by the tags on the HBR blog: Innovation, CSR and Leadership.  Through her work and writings she has opened up the discussion on these topics.

Oh, the other Kanter piece that came across my desk is this two minute video of Kanter discussing what it takes to be a vanguard company.

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