Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. Exploring with Purpose (2) with Dr. Jonathan Reams
Oct 15, 2025
Dr. Jonathan Reams, a leadership researcher and chief creative officer at the Center for Transformative Leadership, shares insights on effective leadership training. He discusses the 'knowing-doing gap' and why traditional methods often fail. Reams emphasizes that true leadership is about moment-to-moment behavior and micro-skills. He introduces dynamic skill theory and offers practical advice for time-starved leaders, highlighting the importance of granular feedback and habit design techniques. The conversation is packed with actionable strategies for cultivating effective leadership practices.
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Leadership Is Momentary Behavior
- Leadership is behavior in the moment, not position or title.
- Contributing clarity, alignment, or commitment in any context counts as leadership.
Notice Your Thinking Like Movement
- We need proprioception of thought to notice thinking as it arises.
- David Bohm's idea helps leaders observe their thinking like physical movement.
Build Complexity From Tiny Skills
- Dynamic Skill Theory maps how small sensorimotor acts build into complex cognition.
- Abstract thinking arises by combining concrete representations into higher principles.
