Does Anyone Really Know What Leadership Is?
The past several years have cast a dark shadow over the term “leadership.” Individuals from medical startups, academia, finance, and other industries. They have participated in unethical and possibly illegal actions in hopes of gaining fame and fortune for themselves. Their neglect and inability to truly lead the organization have resulted in many organizations crashing affecting employees, shareholders, and stakeholders. It is clear the many “leaders” do not understand the true meaning of leadership and what it encompasses.
A significant body of research makes it clear that leadership and management are not the same things, yet, many believe and have mingled the two into a single concept. It is clear that managers manage the day to day operations and leaders guide the organization to the challenges the future will present. This basic definition divides the role of leadership and management into two separate and distinct paths, each requiring different skill sets. It is often said that some managers can become good leaders or some leaders are good managers. It is also recognized that it is rare that very few have the combined ability to both skills and succeed. Yet, we have this misunderstanding of what leadership really is and its effect on the organization.
From my personal view and understanding, the roots of the leadership problem lie in how entrepreneurship is taught and perceived. The literature in academia presents the concept of being your own boss and the fame and fortune that comes with owning a business. Very little is discussed on the ethical aspects and what a leader should be doing. They are caught with balance sheets, valuation, and business plans. Individuals nibble on the fame and fortune hook and once it is set by some level of success, leadership is totally forgotten. Everything is then designed to gain fortune and the fame of owning a successful company. They do not understand that leading a company by looking to the future and adjusting along the way. This will create the fortune they seek and fame will naturally follow.
There is a growing base of literature and discussion into splitting the role of manager and leader into separate functions handled by separate individuals. This is not a new thought as it has roots in that not everyone can or should be a leader and not everyone can or should be a manager which has been around for years. By the division of responsibilities, the ethical miscues can hopefully be avoided and the organization can grow in sync with the future.
The new model of the separation of power and roles of the leader and manager will require adjustments to the academic models being taught. There has not been a new model of leadership for over 50-years, a new look into leadership, management, business is needed. These new models of leadership and management will meet with skepticism, But one must keep in mind the past models have varied success in the past.
The quest for fame and fortune is at the heart of entrepreneurship, owning or running an organization, or inheriting an organization. There is nothing ethically or morally wrong with fame and fortune as long as one gains them in an ethical and legal manner.
“Don’t let yourself become famous for doing the wrong thing”
Marty Stuart
Originally published at http://lwson.wordpress.com on November 4, 2020.
