I’ve been thinking about leadership recently and wondering if the investment in leadership develpment is creating more and better leaders. I’m not sure it is. Anecdotally people seem to be agreeing. And some objective data from Human Synergistics seems to agree.
Why isn’t leadership development, developing leaders?
I think the focus of leadership development is wrong. Too much focus is on the supposed thinking and behaviours of leaders. It focuses people on the ends. To be an effective communicator, to inspire people, to align teams, to motivate actions, to build practical plans, to influence others, etc. These things are important, but not as important as what drives the leader. What do you as a leader stand for? What are you trying to say in the world? Gandhi, Mandela, Kennedy weren’t leaders because they attended a leadership development workshop. They were leaders because something inspired them and it was so universal it inspired others and they became great leaders.
What are you trying to say in the world? I don’t think you can work this out in isolation. It needs to by cinversing with others. Sometimes others can see things more clearly.
