In my last blog post, I argued that defining leadership was challenging. The potentially limitless combinations of leader, follower and situation are too numerous to analyse, let alone distill to an extent that a single definition of leadership is universally useful. For example, leading a platoon in combat is very different to leading a golf club. […]
Tag Archives: leadership
June
09
Can leadership be defined? Part 2 – What do position based definitions of leadership tell us? by Max Eskell
posted by Max
June
02
Can leadership be defined? Part 1 by Max Eskell
posted by Max
Is it useful, or even possible to define leadership? If you do define leadership, what assumptions do you make and what are the potential consequences? Keith Grint is sceptical that leadership can be defined. In his fantastic book (Leadership: A Very Short Introduction), Keith argues that most leadership definitions fit into four general categories: position, person, result, and […]
May
23
What can you learn from ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ by John Maxwell (2007, 268 pages)
posted by Max
There has always been something alluring about a list. A quick online search reveals a huge number of leadership articles with lists. For example: 12 Things You Can Do Starting Today to Be a Better Leader 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Be A Real Leader 4 Simple Things You Can Do To Be A Better […]
May
11
What you could learn from ‘Leaders Eat Last’ by Simon Sinek (2014, 216 pages)
posted by Max
Why are so many people miserable in their jobs? Why does job engagement remain so low in the western world? In Simon’s book, he argues that there are two fundamental rules of corporate culture: Company outcome is dependent on culture Company culture is dependent on the leader Simon argues that leaders are so important as it is their behaviour which […]
May
04
Staying on the leading edge – part 2. My top leadership and philosophy podcasts by Max Eskell
posted by Max
Leaders are required to make difficult decisions involving trade-offs between equally good or equally bad options, always under time pressure and rarely with complete information. Therefore, leadership is as much about thinking, as it is about doing. The corollary of this is that thinking is central to what leaders do and how they add value, and […]
May
03
What could you learn from ‘What you really need to lead’ by Robert Kaplan (2015, 179 pages)
posted by Max
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” – Harry Trueman There is a lot of evidence to support Trueman’s opinion that reading increases your leadership ability and potential (see this HBR article). However, with so much material available, it is difficult to know where to start. In ‘What you need to Lead’ […]
April
29
What could you learn from ‘Superbosses’ by Sydney Finkelstein? (2016, 220 pages)
posted by Max
While the definition and even the concept of leadership remain contested, it is clear that some individuals are widely considered to be exceptional leaders. What separates these leaders who leave their mark on the world, with the countless others who vanish with little or no trace? In ‘Superbosses’ Sydney Finkelstein argues that exceptional leaders (superbosses) […]
April
20
Could personality analytics revolutionise the way you work with others? By Max Eskell
posted by Max
Human interaction is incredibly complex. People can be very, very different and it takes time to get to know people. As a result, when we work with someone for the first time we often fail to pick up on their individual nuances of language and body language. By not being attuned to new people you increase the chance […]
April
16
What you could learn from ‘Quick and Nimble’ by Adam Bryant (2014, 251 pages)
posted by Max
“Innovation distinguishes between leaders and follower.” Steve Jobs Innovation is one of the strongest sources of competitive advantage. Staying ahead of the competition allows you to explore new products, services, and business models while also making sure you are exploiting your existing offering. Adam Bryant offers 16 well thought and well-crafted pieces of advice […]
April
12
What could you learn from ‘Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World’ by Gen Stanley McChrystal (2015, 304 pages)
posted by Max
General Stanley McChristal has a phenomenal reputation amongst veterans. His new book ‘Team of Teams’ charts his experience commanding the Special Operations Task Force in Iraq. Stanley pointedly highlights the initial problems when arrives. He inherits a slow, top-down, bureaucratic organisation that is failing. The book then charts the evolution of the Task Force into […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘The Effective Executive’ by Peter F. Drucker (2007, 154 pages)
posted by Max
Despite being written in 1967 the advice and guidance in this book could never be more relevant. Drucker outlines his five habits for the effective executive (that Jim Collins later uses as a basis for 8 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders). Drucker’s five habits are: Track, analyse and manage your time Focus on the outcome […]
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