Sunday, March 27, 2011

What is a Leader?

Steve "Poots" Candice writes in, "What is a leader?" in response to my post about how foreign management in Japan abandoned their posts at the earthquakes, Tsunami and nuclear accident and then left the Japanese holding the bag. I posted a article that predicted the lash back to these people from the Japanese staff:


Fly-Jin Hits Even the Wall Street Journal



If these people really thought the situation was so bad and dangerous, then why didn't they tell their staff to go home and care for their families? 


I pointed out that this was a disgraceful show of lack of leadership abilities. Steve adds:


I have always said that the real problem with American business today begins right at the top. I can even define it in two words. Two words that are missing from what passes for corporate management in America today. The two words are:

‘Follow me.’

These two words are the difference between a leader and a manager.

A leader will say: ‘…OK everyone; here is what we are going to do. Follow me…” They will then lead the way.

A manager will say: “…OK everyone; here is what I want done. I expect it completed by tomorrow…” Having just made an executive decision, he or she will likely then go to their private country club and play golf.

Even in times of disaster a leader will NEVER abandon his or her people to their fate. They will be honest with their people and tell them that they may not be able to protect them from whatever awaits, but whatever it is they will face it together. 

That’s a LEADER.

All we have in American management today are managers.

1 comment:

  1. managers are also born bullshitters and the world is learning from the bullshit nation as to how to act and pretend.

    ReplyDelete

Comments must be succinct & relevant to the story. Comments are checked frequently and abusive, rude or profane comments will be deleted. I’m just one of many bloggers who answer questions online and sometimes for the press. I usually handle questions about Japan, marketing or the economy, so in those areas I’m more likely to make sense and less likely to say something really stupid. If I post something here that you find helpful or interesting, that’s wonderful. This is my personal blog. If you don't like what you have read here then, just like when you go into a restaurant or bar that allows smoking, if you don't like it, there's something at the front that has hinges on it and it is called a "door."