Advice Line | Bob Lewis | InfoWorld | How twisted is the leadership scene? | October 12, 2007 05:24 AM

MORE ENTRIES

How twisted is the leadership scene?

October 12, 2007 | Comments: (0)

How twisted is the leadership scene?

Dear Bob ...

Commenting on your recent series about business archetypes ("Jung at heart," Keep the Joint Running, 9/24/2007 and "More business archetypes," 10/1/2007):

Of course there are the business archetypes that never make it into leadership but are leaders themselves.

For example, there are the "Mechanics" who enter the company for one reason, but because of their knowledge and expertise - and business sense different then the leaders at the top , cut through the business politics and goal setting to streamline and improve the company processes - which ultimately ends up nose diving their careers as "leadership" doesn't understand what they are doing (it wasn't their idea in the first place) and they re-frame what just happened with less time and money by spending more time and money to make it a "corporate project" 'cause the real - un-rewarded - creator might leave at some point in time (creating a self fulfilling prophesy for the "mechanic" who's only real joy is in fixing things)

What a twisted world we live in.

- Mechanically inclined

Dear Inclined ...

Just my opinion: The world isn't twisted in the least. From before the beginning of history, those at the top of the pecking order have been those who are good at reaching the top of the pecking order, not those who do what's best for all members of society.

At least today we live in a world where leaders have to contend with some level of obligation and expectation that they act to benefit the organization they lead. Even the worst managers in corporate America recognize that they have to at least provide a convincing pretense that they are achieving something useful.

Which is to say that Idi Amin was closer to the natural order of things than Abe Lincoln.

I'm not suggesting we have to set our expectations low. Even the most egocentric leaders tend to live both up and down to the expectations of those around them.

I'm saying we should appreciate how far we've come, and recognize what a difficult journey it's been.

- Bob

Posted by Bob Lewis on October 12, 2007 05:24 AM

RATE THIS ARTICLE:

COMMENTS

Years ago when I used to watch Chico and the Man as a student at USC we used to dream about being the studs on campus. We wanted to be rich and manley and cool for the Chicas. Now all you have to have is a hip blogger handle! A shout out to my former wave surfin buds... Tanner, Kyle, Richard, Johan and TJ

JBlog

Posted by: JD at October 13, 2007 12:45 AM

Three books. Three ways to change the world, your life, or at least Bob Lewis' bank account.

Leading IT: The Toughest Job in the World distills the world of IT leadership into eight learnable skills and gives you concrete, practical techniques for each one of them.

Bare Bones Project Management: What you can't not do makes project management manageable, even for first-time project managers with no formal training in the discipline.

ManagementSpeak: What managers say/What they mean … well, it won't help your career, and won't make you a better manager. Mostly, it will make you chuckle, guffaw, and maybe even chortle. Make friends - it's the perfect gift for anyone who has ever suffered through one of those meetings.

Order your copies today!

Technology White Papers

InfoWorld Technology Marketplace

» Technology White Papers Library

Technology White Papers by Topic

Technology White Papers E-mail Alert