In this post I want to share several quotes from Henry Mintzberg that appeared in an “Opinion” column in the November, 2004, Harvard Business Review. In this column, Mintzberg speaks critically of leadership. The column title says it quite clearly, “Enough Leadership.” But in this column Mintzberg also provides key elements of what comprises good leadership.
The first quote I want to discuss is as follows, “The assumption is that every company with a problem needs new leadership, more leadership. But I think many have had too much leadership. They need less leadership, maybe even an older king of leadership: just enough leadership.” This is always a tough call; when do leaders reach a point wherein they are simply overly involved? This is a critically important question, because when a leader (or a governing board) become too controlling … this is when staffs and other followers begin to disengage. This is when creativity and chance-taking ebb. And this is when a company or organization is most vulnerable to falling behind.
Mintzberg provides important guidance here in saying that “Instead of isolating leadership, we need to diffuse it throughout the organization.” Amen, brother! None of us has all the answers. The best of decision making occurs when every stakeholder has the opportunity to speak to the issue at hand. And it has often been my experience that the very best input is that which comes from the people in the trenches … those people who are on the front lines of dealing with the situations needing to be resolved. Effective leaders engage others in the process. Effective leaders listen as well as they speak. And when this occurs … when the workplace environment is open and every voice is listened to, this is when total teams emerge and when opportunity is unbounded.
And this is where I will quote Mintzberg a final time in this post, “Such leaders care a lot more than they cure, they connect a lot more than they control, they demonstrate a lot more than they decide … These leaders are not perched ‘on top.’ They work throughout.” I fully believe that the best leaders are those who promote inclusiveness in the workplace and ensure that decisions are fully informed. Perhaps the greatest downfall for would-be leaders who do not achieve their potential is reaching a point wherein they feel only they have the answers. This sort of arrogance, and that is precisely what it is, can bread contempt and certainly leads to decisions based on minimal input … greatly increasing the chance for wrong or less effective decisions to be made.
Effective leaders understand the balance that is called for … they find that right mix of leading the way and listening to others. And it has been my experience that this is much more a learned trait than one that comes already part of one’s package. In time, trial and error grow the correct philosophy in those who will ultimately lead most effectively.
Author Cross-references:
Henry Mintzberg: None
Key Word Cross-references:
Inclusive/Open/Honest/Transparent: Also see posts 12/12/08, 4/20/09, 5/1/09, 7/7/09, 10/26/09, 11/11/09, 1/29/10, 2/24/10, 5/26/10
Listening: Also see post 9/9/09, 10/26/09, 1/29/10, 3/29/10
Team: Also see posts 1/13/09, 2/18/09, 4/20/09, 1/6/10, 4/19/10, 5/26/10
Workplace Environment: Also see posts 12/12/08, 1/28/09, 2/6/09, 2/19/09, 7/7/09, 9/9/09, 1/6/10, 4/19/10
Tags: Leadership
on Leadership ... by Steven Davis, CAE 
Leave a comment