The Source

Posted by Steve Marshall. Follow me on Twitter.

Peter Koenig

After his weekend 'Money Seminar' (another planned for Autumn), Peter Koenig stayed in London for an extra day to share some of his research and thinking about 'The Source'.

Peter names a role that is not recognised within conventional management literature, the 'Source' of a project, entity or enterprise.  

As we enquired with Peter, we heard how he frames the Source as the single person who receives the idea or the vision for the organisation and then passes this on to 'helpers' or 'sub-sources'.  Recognition of Source energy is important in enabling the smooth running of an organisation; leadership without recognition of the source results in either a tendency towards authoritarian dictatorship or, alternatively, wheel-spinning egalitarianism.

As consultants and coaches, meus frequently works with leaders and entrepreneurs who embody the Source, and Peter's distinction between personal power, authority or charisma and the natural founding energy of the source felt critical.

Peter's work is ongoing and will be of anyone interested in leading or playing supporting roles in organisations of all shapes and sizes.  He is emphatic that the responsibility of the Source is invested in one person; a point which begs the following enquiry questions for organisations:

• Can there be a joint Source?
• How do two Sources work together?
• What are the implications for merger or acquisition?
• Can the same idea come from simultaneously to more than one person?
• Can there be a 'common vision'?  What is this and can we truly align?
• The question of succession.  How to transmit the role?

Let us know if any of these questions capture you or your clients.  We hope to be working with Peter again on this enquiry!

Comments

[David Shindler]

Interesting stuff! Like your website and philosophy. A thought about 'the Source': how does this fit with a founding father or mother figure in a business who often acts as the guardian of the values/heritage? Is this the same or something different?

atb
David

[Steve]

David, thanks for your feedback! The Source concept fits well with the idea of a founding father/mother who is the holder of the values embodied in the business. Peter says that succession in this case, whether to a son/daughter or other successor figure, should be accompanied by suitable ritual to make sure that the 'guardian' responsibility is properly transferred.

Best regards,

Steve