Category: The Practice of Leadership

Leadership In Pictures: The Subtleties of Great Leadership

Great leadership is grossly misunderstood. It is not that there is not enough knowledge about leadership: books, articles and seminars abound. There is just little understanding about what really makes leaders great. The first aspect of greatness was discussed in Drawing #1:Who Leaders Should Be. (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-series-pictures-drawing-1-doug-wilson?trk=prof-post). Without the character illustrated there, nothing else matters. Building… Continue reading Leadership In Pictures: The Subtleties of Great Leadership

Leadership in A Series of Pictures – Drawing 1

This is the first of several leadership drawings presented for consideration and discussion. Leadership is a very simple yet a very complicated action. The diagram below is designed to illustrate the many ingredients of the “recipe” for great leadership. Just as in cooking, it is the ways these ingredients blend together that create the unique… Continue reading Leadership in A Series of Pictures – Drawing 1

Looking Into The Souls Of Psychopathic Leaders

In her article “7 Things Rich People and Psychopaths Have In Common”, Morgan Quinn reviews multiple studies on psychopathic behaviors. (http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/money/7-things-rich-people-and-psychopaths-have-common). The research Quinn cites in her article is summarized below with a fictitious leadership example (in italics) drawn from multiple real life examples. These examples are placed in the setting of a new leader… Continue reading Looking Into The Souls Of Psychopathic Leaders

An Open Letter to Leaders: You Are Not A Great Leader And Probably Never Will Be

Lets face it. Most of the readers on LinkedIn are searching for the Holy Grail – a leadership secret that will vault them far beyond their competition. (And most writers are offering that magic bullet which they, and they alone, have discovered). Yet leadership greatness is rare and does not come easily or without a… Continue reading An Open Letter to Leaders: You Are Not A Great Leader And Probably Never Will Be

The Alarming Epidemic of Leadership Dishonesty

Jim Boeheim is the latest in a long line of disgraced leaders. In a stunning moment Boeheim’s reputation, legacy and accomplishments are gone but the actions creating the fall from grace have been in development over many years. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution’s Jeff Shultz writes: “Jim Boeheim has long been one of the nation’s… Continue reading The Alarming Epidemic of Leadership Dishonesty

Leaders and the Decline of Trust: If Everybody Can Be A Leader, Why Do We Have A Leadership Crisis?

  The World Economic Forum published the report: The Outlook on the Global Agenda 2015 (http://reports.weforum.org/outlook-global-agenda-2015/) in which is an analysis of the top 10 trends facing the world’s regions over the next 18 months. One of the interesting findings reported is that 86% of respondents agree that we have a leadership crisis in the… Continue reading Leaders and the Decline of Trust: If Everybody Can Be A Leader, Why Do We Have A Leadership Crisis?

Preference or Conviction? The Damage Situational Ethics Is Doing To Leadership Trust

Situational ethics have taken over our collective philosophy. Our beliefs and values have become preferences instead of convictions. If there is greater good to be gained by violating principles and values then one should abandon their values and take the expedient route. In certain situations little white lies are acceptable (even desirable) and promises should… Continue reading Preference or Conviction? The Damage Situational Ethics Is Doing To Leadership Trust

How Damage Is Being Done To Young Leaders

I become very upset when businesses and leaders abuse their power and authority. The sustained use of an authoritarian, domineering, or controlling leadership style is clearly not a proper leadership approach; it harms people, performance and ultimately customers. Conversely, the opposite is also true. Organizations and leaders can be too people oriented, too worried about… Continue reading How Damage Is Being Done To Young Leaders

What I Learned About Engagement From A Typewriter: A Case Study

Engagement is not a new concept; great leaders have been using it for years. But it is a concept whose time is now. Organizations need strong employee engagement. Picture an organization with its employees united in finding and implementing solutions to issues and opportunities. Engagement has not only the potential to create high quality decisions… Continue reading What I Learned About Engagement From A Typewriter: A Case Study