Leading in the Post-Socialist Situation: A View from Within

On February 18, 2013, an open lecture on “Leading in the Post-Socialist Situation”  was hosted by the Faculty of Political Science “Roberto Ruffilli”- University of Bologna, within the framework of the international Interdisciplinary Master’s in East-European Studies- M.I.R.E.E.S. 50 students pursuing the M.I.R.E.E.S. program had the opportunity to attend a lecture delivered by Prof. Sam Potolicchio, lecturer of Politics and Public Policy at Georgetown University, D.C.
Potolicchio was introduced by prof. Stefano Bianchini, Academic Director of M.I.R.E.E.S.
The lecture started with a famous psychology quiz on “selective attentiveness” with students challenged to count exchanges between one of the two differently colored teams.
Potolicchio reflected on this phenomenon as quite natural for humans to behave within the frameworks of an entitled task, but stressed that successful leadership must have a panoramic view on all events happening within and beyond given context so that the authentic reality is embraced and acted upon.
The second test addressed the cognitive deficit in visualizing things that are most appropriate to one’s upbringing or social context one has lived and/or worked for the most of his/her life.
The importance here is never to leave one’s theories unquestioned and not opposed to whatever arguments might the opponent have. This second ingredient Potolicchio termed as opposable minds indispensable for the creation of unbiased picture of reality and calling for an enhanced cooperation between adversaries.
Potolicchio stresses that it is extremely dangerous to think that a giant leap from one system to another will prevent past things from reoccurring and society will immediately embark on the right trajectory.
The last test was brought up to illustrate the cognitive biases produced by first- impression and appearance.
Overall, Potolicchio advised students to be better thinkers and try to overcome cognitive biases and deficits by being better informed, more exposed to contrasted ideas, welcoming of international exposure and attentive to politicians' attempts to take advantage of these cognitive shortcomings.