Managing Leadership^®

Hi!

This blog is both for readers of my new book, Managing Leadership: Toward a new and usable understanding of what leadership really is – and how to manage it, and for those who simply have an interest in this important topic of leadership in organizations.

The basic thesis of the book is that leadership is actually a characteristic of organizations – not, strictly speaking, of individuals. It is an innate quality of the group that it is the manager’s duty to cultivate and bring into the service of the organization, just like any other asset.

“Leaders” traditionally impose their individual leadership on others, viewing the organization principally as a vehicle for expressing their singular leadership qualities. On doing so, they place great and untenable (and wholly unnecessary) burdens on themselves, and suffocate the natural leadership phenomenon inherent to the group. This leads to a variety of organizational problems that exacerbate the difficulties faced by all – and that all-to-often are what are actually behind the terrible business scandals of the past decade.

This blog is for those who wish to learn about and discuss the issues on this topic, presented in Managing Leadership. Yes, it will be helpful to have read the book, in order to best follow and participate in the discussion. In particular, many of the posts on this blog will be in response to reader comments – particularly those delivered through the email addresses provided in the book for that purpose. However, this is an evolving discussion that is moving here, and those who join it here are most welcome, and will undoubtedly both meaningfully contribute to and benefit from it.

Only robust and vigorous debate can lead to valuable – and actionable – insights, fully developed and understood by participants in the dialogue. Accordingly, within the bounds of civil discourse and good intentions, viewpoints contesting the thesis of Managing Leadership will not only be allowed – they will be encouraged.

Reasonable and decent people can hold opposing views on the same topic. It is on this basis that the discussion will be pursued. It will be useful to bear in mind a saying attributed to Vaclav Havel: Associate with those who seek the truth – and avoid those who have found it.

I am the author of Managing Leadership, and I am pleased to offer this venue for a dialogue – and, hopefully, a vigorous debate – on the true nature of leadership in organizations (and how to manage it!).

Welcome aboard!

Jim Stroup

—

You might find it useful to subscribe, so that you can keep updated on new posts, either by email or RSS Reader – make your choice at the top of the sidebar on the right of this page.

Technorati Tags: Leaders, individual leadership, Managing Leadership, Organizational Leadership