In the past few weeks I have attempted to present some challenges to the traditional notion of the singular individual leader as the essential and singular source of leadership for the modern organization. The highly regarded and experienced leadership expert and author, Lee Thayer, who also offers his insightful thinking at The Leader’s Journey, has done us the service of pointing out an apparent discrepancy in the unfolding of my argument.
Lee’s concern is that in a recent review of Captain D. Michael Abrashoff‘s new book, It’s Our Ship, I sought to dispute the common contention that everything positive that happens in an organization originates with the person at the top – the “leader.” And yet, in a subsequent post, Lighting a fire under them, it appears to Lee that I may have undermined that argument by describing the need, under the ordinary conditions in which most of us find ourselves, for impetus from above in order to get things moving in an organization.
Moreover, Lee builds his critique in the context of an excellent discussion of the difficulty in properly identifying and placing responsibility for ownership of the various problems we confront in organizations. So, we have two putatively contradictory issues – the overemphasis on leadership exclusively from the top and the vital need for direction from there – highlighted in the context of a third – the need to rationalize responsibility for action in an organization.
We will look at these over the next few days. While we do, I will attempt to be guided by the following, from the nineteenth century English logician and theologian, Richard Whately:
It is one thing to wish to have truth on our side, and another thing to wish sincerely to be on the side of truth.”
Please stop in to see if we can sort that out!
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Today’s tips: Speaking of an overemphasis on the person at the top, please see this WSJ column by an experienced director, Gary Wilson, about the dangers of the imperial CEO.
After that, please be sure to stop over to Michael Wade‘s Execupundit for this important examination opened there, which is at the heart of our current discussion here, about what really holds endeavors of all sorts together.
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Technorati Tags: leader, leadership, organization, Abrashoff, responsibility, ownership, direction, English, Richard Whately, truth, WSJ, Gary Wilson, CEO, Michael Wade, Execupundit, Lee Thayer
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Jim,
Great piece and one which highlights a difficult topic for leaders. As you know, I wrote an essay addressing this similar topic recently entitled “Democratic Dictatorship” [ http://ninasimosko.com/blog/2008/06/27/democratic-dictatorship-2/ ] wherein I reminded leaders that “the final decision and its repercussion is yours and yours alone.” As they say, “the buck stops here.”
Hello Nina,
Yes, I remember that article – I enjoyed it and recommend it.
Thanks for stopping by and providing the link to this excellent essay – and thanks as always both for your kind comments and your own terrific perspective and writing!