The Power of Virtual Distance, 2nd Edition

10Soul-Based Leadership – An Introduction

In the first edition, we put forth a new leadership model to match up to an age in which Virtual Distance had become prevalent. We called it Ambassadorial Leadership because many of the characteristics of skilled Ambassadors ran parallel to tactics we suggested for reducing Virtual Distance.

Our next book focused solely on leadership and described what we called the Virtual Distance Leadership Model, showcasing three main leadership principles: Creating Context, Cultivating Community, and Co-Activating New Leaders. Both Ambassadorial Leadership and the Virtual Distance Leadership Model were based on our initial findings of Virtual Distance at that time. And those leadership models can still be helpful.

However, we've been fortunate in a rare way for researchers in that we've been able to see the evolution of Virtual Distance over a long period of time. That's allowed us to reflect on trend data and the many nuanced and startling ways in which Virtual Distance has become a major disruptor of traditional organizational behavior and leadership models. We've also been able to quantifiably confirm that Virtual Distance is growing stronger and we can predict it will create even more serious problems if left unresolved.

To do something about it however, requires a view of leadership that's based on the human experience. Understanding what mechanism might work best in this context was a question that remained elusive for many years.

Fortunately, ...