Antioch University AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses Dissertations & Theses 2014 Addressing Global Threat: Exploring the Relationship between Common Purpose and Leadership Charles R.H. Powell Antioch University - PhD Program in Leadership and Change Follow this and additional works at: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Military, War, and Peace Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, and the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Powell, Charles R.H., "Addressing Global Threat: Exploring the Relationship between Common Purpose and Leadership" (2014). Dissertations & Theses. 166. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/166 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses at AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses by an authorized administrator of AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. ADDRESSING GLOBAL THREAT: EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMON PURPOSE AND LEADERSHIP CHARLES R. H. POWELL A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Program of Antioch University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November, 2014 Copyright 2014 Charles R. H. Powell All rights reserved This is to certify that the Dissertation entitled: ADDRESSING GLOBAL THREAT: EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMON PURPOSE AND LEADERSHIP prepared by Charles Powell is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Change. Approved by: Philomena Essed, Ph.D., Chair date Carolyn B. Kenny, Ph.D., Committee Member date Anne Perkins, Ph.D., Committee Member date Steve Chase, Ph.D., External Reader date Acknowledgements My utmost gratitude goes to my family. My wife, Paula, deserves immeasurable credit for her patience, support, and sacrifice . not to mention timely doses of humor; this would not have come about without her unceasing contribution. My sons—Jeff, Corey, and Garrett—who provide me with ideas and encouragement when I am stuck, seemingly imponderable questions that I sometimes get right, and the deep satisfaction derived from their ongoing growth. I am most fortunate that Donald Robert Powell and Bob Hipple instilled a desire in me for lifelong learning, furnished lessons on fatherhood, and, of course, provided me with all those books. My admiration and appreciation deepens for Jennifer Butler and Donald Earl Powell who work to make it better for the last, this, and the next generation. During each phase of my life, I have been able to learn from and be inspired by selfless and, by extension, effective leaders: Michael Burke, TSgt. Henry, Dr. Gary Krasicky, and Mike Mason. Vicki Escude powerfully demonstrated how the power of insight could enhance leadership. Dr. William Torres, through his compassion and support, reinforced the value of patience. During my physical and virtual academic absences, Jane Vitali and Greg Pennington led in my stead and while doing so became even better for that experience. Jay Spinale always listened, questioned, and reinforced with perfect timing and measure. I want to acknowledge John Schiereck for helping me to see, think, and act in new ways. I have not lacked for academic assistance and direction. Dr. Philomena Essed, my Chair, challenged, advised, and encouraged me every step of the way and always with a gentle persistence. Dr. Carolyn Kenny kindly and effectively taught me about phenomenology and always had the perfect answer to any of my questions. Dr. Mitch Kusy furnished support, but also discipline. On the shortest of notice, Dr. Anne Perkins has given me her time and attention i along with invaluable input around common purpose and leadership. Dr. Steve Chase has also offered his time and invaluable suggestions. From day one in the Antioch program and thereafter, Dr. Dick Couto has provided me meaningful concepts, leads, and contacts to facilitate this study. Dr. Peter Vaill’s classroom work and writings transformed my leadership thinking and approach. Dr. Robert Thomas embodied his words through his equanimity and effective direction. I want to thank Dr. Gill Robinson Hickman for her writings on common purpose leadership and a most helpful suggestion at a critical moment. All of the aforementioned have accomplished the articulated aim of promoting enhanced understanding of leadership and research. Finally, I wish to recognize those who engage in pursuit of common purpose. If not for Hal Jones, who first made me conscious of the simple wonder and efficacy of a common purpose approach, I may have never considered (let alone practiced and researched) such a course. My thanks and best wishes go to Dr. David Krieger for opening the door to the world of nuclear weapons abolition. Both Donita Crockett and Cathy Gwinn were beyond helpful and patient in facilitating key conversations. Above all, I wish to express my deep appreciativeness to all who participated in the interviews for this study and to all who continuously engage in efforts to reduce nuclear weapons—may they achieve their (our) aims in time. Dedication To Sarah (Sally) Hipple: Whenever I became lost or tired, your lights of compassion and perseverance have always shown the way. ii Abstract While the mention of common purpose is prevalent in leadership studies, there are few attempts to explore the relationship between common purpose and leadership. This study delves into the questions of if and how common purpose and leadership inform one another. How leaders adapt purpose and leadership approaches in response to evolving and turbulent conditions may foster the depth and sustainment of immediate and subsequent accomplishments. Through phenomenological research in the venue of nuclear weapons reduction, a common purpose that is both globally pervasive and imbued with a sense of urgency, the lived essence of those engaged in common purpose can be illustrated. Exploring the symbiosis of the nuclear weapons reduction common purpose and associated leadership may have theoretical implications or provide lessons that can be utilized within other common purpose settings. The electronic version of this dissertation is available through the OhioLink ETD Center at http://ohiolink.edu/etd iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... i Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... ii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii Chapter I: Introduction .....................................................................................................................1 The Question(s) ........................................................................................................................1 An Example ..............................................................................................................................7 Researcher Stance ...................................................................................................................10 Concepts .................................................................................................................................15 Methodology ...........................................................................................................................18 Summary and Next Steps ........................................................................................................21 Chapter II: Review of Literature ....................................................................................................23 Common Purpose ....................................................................................................................23 Common Purpose and Leadership ..........................................................................................27 Factors Influencing Common Purpose and Leadership ..........................................................33 Adaptation (and Lack Thereof) of Common Purpose and Leadership ...................................37 Enhancing Common Purpose and Leadership ........................................................................40 Social Movements ..................................................................................................................47 The Common Purpose of Nuclear Weapons Reduction .........................................................48 Nuclear Weapons Reduction Leadership: Lived Examples ...................................................54 iv Prevailing Themes of the NWR Experience ...........................................................................60 And Gaps ................................................................................................................................64