In today's fast-paced and information-driven world, the concept of curation has taken on a new level of importance. Whether it's curating content for a blog, curating a collection for a museum, or curating a playlist for a music streaming service, the act of carefully selecting and organizing items has become a valuable skill. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about "curation"?

Glasp

Hatched by Glasp

Aug 11, 2023

4 min read

0

In today's fast-paced and information-driven world, the concept of curation has taken on a new level of importance. Whether it's curating content for a blog, curating a collection for a museum, or curating a playlist for a music streaming service, the act of carefully selecting and organizing items has become a valuable skill. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about "curation"?

Joanne McNeil, a prominent figure in the field of curation, believes that at its core, curation is about finding the interesting, meaningful, and relevant amidst the vast maze of overabundant information. It's about creating a framework for what matters in the world and why. In this sense, curation becomes a form of creative and intellectual labor, a means of authorship that deserves thoughtful consideration.

But curation is not just about acquisition and selection. It's also about contextualizing. By placing items within a larger context, a curator can help the audience better understand and appreciate the significance of what they are experiencing. This act of contextualization can be a powerful tool in conveying meaning and creating a deeper connection between the curator and the audience.

Edith Zimmerman, a writer and curator, emphasizes the importance of enthusiasm in the curation process. She believes that people respond to other people's enthusiasm about things. When a curator is genuinely excited about the items they have selected, that enthusiasm can be contagious. It can spark a sense of curiosity and engagement in the audience, leading them to explore and appreciate the curated collection even more.

Peter Hopkins, an advocate for curation, sees it as a means to an end. He believes that ideas are the most valuable thing and that curation is the tool that allows us to find and transfer the right ideas quickly and effectively. By curating and distilling ideas, we can separate the good ones from the bad ones and harness the power of those good ideas to propel us forward.

So how does curation relate to leadership? In many ways, the act of curating can be seen as a form of leadership. Just as a curator carefully selects and organizes items to create a meaningful experience for the audience, a leader must carefully select and organize the resources and people at their disposal to create a meaningful and impactful outcome.

In fact, there are various leadership styles that can be seen as different forms of curation. For example, the servant leadership style focuses on the well-being and happiness of employees. By paying attention to their emotional needs, a servant leader can help them cope with the stress and challenges of the current pandemic. This kind of leadership can be seen as curating a positive and supportive work environment, where employees feel valued and motivated.

Another leadership style that can be seen as a form of curation is transformational leadership. This style focuses on inspiring and motivating employees to achieve their full potential. A transformational leader acts as a curator of talent, recognizing and nurturing the strengths of each individual, and creating a cohesive and high-performing team.

Similarly, the democratic leadership style involves curating a collaborative and inclusive decision-making process. By involving employees in the decision-making process, a democratic leader can tap into the collective wisdom and creativity of the team, leading to better outcomes and a greater sense of ownership and commitment.

While each leadership style has its own unique characteristics, they all share a common thread of curating and organizing resources to achieve a desired outcome. Just as a curator carefully selects and arranges items to create a meaningful experience, leaders carefully select and arrange resources and people to create a meaningful and impactful result.

So, how can we apply the principles of curation to our own leadership practice? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

  • 1. Embrace the role of curator: Recognize that as a leader, you have the power to curate and shape the experiences of those around you. Take the time to carefully select and organize resources and people to create a meaningful and impactful outcome.
  • 2. Contextualize and communicate: Just as a curator provides context for the items in their collection, a leader must provide context and communicate the vision and purpose behind their actions. Help your team understand the significance and meaning of their work, and how it contributes to the larger goals of the organization.
  • 3. Foster enthusiasm and engagement: Like Edith Zimmerman suggests, people respond to enthusiasm. As a leader, cultivate a sense of excitement and passion for the work you do and share that enthusiasm with your team. This can inspire and motivate them to fully engage with their work and strive for excellence.

In conclusion, curation is not just about selecting and organizing items. It's about finding the interesting, meaningful, and relevant amidst the abundance of information and creating a framework for what matters in the world. This ethos of curation can be applied to leadership, where leaders carefully select and organize resources and people to create a meaningful and impactful outcome. By embracing the role of curator, providing context and communication, and fostering enthusiasm and engagement, leaders can harness the power of curation to achieve their goals and inspire their teams. So let's embrace the art of curation and become the leaders that curate meaningful experiences and outcomes.

Hatch New Ideas with Glasp AI 🐣

Glasp AI allows you to hatch new ideas based on your curated content. Let's curate and create with Glasp AI :)