Friday, August 17, 2012

Leadership training and research

Leadership is a big deal in management. Open any issue of the Harvard Business Review and you are bound to find something on the subject- the latest issue has three articles. Books on leadership are truly legion. Training programmes in leadership are amongst those widely subscribed to. I sometimes regret I didn't get into this business. It seems easy to do- you can get away with almost anything as long as you present it plausibly- and it is enormously lucrative.

Leadership material falls into several categories: great men ('Leadership lessons from Gandhi'), books ('Leadership lessons from the Gita'), business ('Leadership in the services industry'), etc. Then, you have things that are fairly eclectic: eg. Climb the leadership ladder in eight easy steps.

Interesting, then, that we should have a book now by somebody who has spent a lifetime in training and research in leadership that suggests that much of the stuff is bunkum. Barbara Kellerman of the Kennedy School of Government has done just that with her recent book, The End of Leadership.

Her basic thesis is hard to dispute. The days when people at the top dictated things and people down below just followed are over, whether in politics or in the corporate world. People no longer look up to leaders as they used to and followership is as important as leadership. (The latter includes things like standing up and saying 'no' to your boss). Leadership training has, however, failed to make the necessary adaptation.

I would go further. It is not just leadership training that needs to change. The basic business model is broken and it needs to be replaced with something more egalitarian and decentralised. But those in the business of teaching leadership won't say so because the ones at the top will not pay them for saying such things.

More in my ET column, Leadership industry in crisis.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice article.

"Everyone" is a Leader, although each in different perspectives.

Unknown said...

A very different view to the one we take over here.I appreciate the sincere appreciation.Clearly explain the content in the blog and keep on updating the blog.Thank you.

autoglass replacement

Small Business Leadership Coaching said...

Leadership coaching can teach small business owners how to succeed in a highly competitive market.

Small Business Leadership Coaching

Anonymous said...

For a Growing firm a good leadership is must to develop a successful organization & it is play a vital role of firm growth thanks for adding this useful publish !..
Corporate training

Unknown said...

I agreed that each company small or big and an organization should have a good leadership training in order to have a successful foundation.

Unknown said...

A quick search on the web for terms like leader's and leadership training and leading, returns pages
of dangerous babble that wrap the whole process of leadership in a thick layer of inapplicable jargon.
A quick trip to the bookstore produces the same thing.



leadership training
leadership training Exeter
leadership training Scotland
leadership training courses
leadership skills London

Anonymous said...

I used to be able to find good info from your blog articles.


Feel free to surf to my web page ... Twin Cities Auto Glass

Anonymous said...

Having read this I thought it was extremely informative.

I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this article together.
I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worthwhile!

Feel free to visit my site Raspberry Ketone Reviews

Anonymous said...

Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post!
It's the little changes that produce the greatest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!

Also visit my blog post: Muscle Core Supplement

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone, it's my first pay a visit at this site, and paragraph is actually fruitful designed for me, keep up posting these articles.

my blog :: Viarex Male Enhancement

Anonymous said...

I'm excited to find this page. I wanted to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely loved every bit of it and i also have you book marked to look at new things on your website.

Also visit my weblog ... http://mitoslimreviews.net

Anonymous said...

My partner and I stumbled over here by a different page and thought I should check things out.
I like what I see so now i'm following you. Look forward to going over your web page for a second time.

Feel free to surf to my web blog: Dark Spots on Skin

Anonymous said...

Terrific article! This is the type of information that
are supposed to be shared across the web.
Disgrace on Google for not positioning this publish upper!
Come on over and consult with my web site . Thanks =)

Here is my blog :: Full Review

Anonymous said...

In order to gain grater understanding of
the issue, I opened my Akashic Records, and there
I entered into a very deep conversation with my Masters, Teachers,
and the Lords of Akasha. Pyewacket became an Internet celebrity after his adopted owner,
Tricia James posted his photos on Live - Journal.

(ID cards have been successfully used as a required form of identification in foreign countries.



My website; new new mexico area codes

Anonymous said...

I personally have never gotten the 1lb burger, that's just a little too much meat there. French official crown is described as a diamond rain – an unusual design. At this stop, you are standing at the rim of a canyon that overlooks the Tularosa Basin.

Here is my web blog: new mexico attorney general website
My webpage - highlands new mexico athletics

Anonymous said...

My fair lady tours, one of the most popular
range of Kesari Tours are targeted at women. The British built India's capital New Delhi while the present day Old Delhi served as the capital of Islamic India. Unlike dating sites, Hookup sites focus more on users’ preferences for casual chats, laid-back dates, and sexually charged encounters against the whole no-strings-attached principle.

Here is my web page http://www.gednet.ca/phpnuke/html/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=CletaNzd