Newspaper Article Leadership
Newspaper Article Leadership

Unknown Facts on Leadership Revealed
Imagine a bed of oysters, blankets in the bottom of the clear blue ocean, waiting for some adventurous diving le through dappled waters and bring to the surface the hidden gems trapped inside.
OK it's a bit fanciful, I must admit, but this article I will put focus on one pearl of wisdom from the ivory towers of academia.
Now before you get too hung up on the concept of pearls of wisdom from the ivory towers ask the question: Is the academic research of any value whatsoever?
My answer is obviously yes. But as a business school professor teaching in business schools around the world, I'd say that would not I?
Now academic papers are the most valuable are those who challenge our thinking. Those who are adequately unexpected to make us think "that's interesting!"
For now, I would like to concentrate on something that has interested me for a long time: the search the charismatic CEO and whether charismatic CEOs have no impact on business performance. Some researchers believe that they do – but some say they do not.
Then I looked back at my February 2006 edition of the Journal of American Academy of Management, known as AMJ with interest. 'Does CEO charisma case? 'It asked in large friendly letters on the cover.
Summarize brutally, it appears that in times of uncertainty or crisis, charismatic chief Directors seem to provide some stability and a sense of direction to companies … But not always.
And what I think is what makes academic research as interesting. It challenges the commonsense view of the world. We assume that larger-than-life characters who run our businesses make a genuine difference. But actually, when we will look for evidence is not there.
I will say it again: There is no relationship between charisma of a CEO and business performance. This becomes important for us as practicing managers, if we choose to promote or select senior executives for roles just because they are charismatic. There is no guarantee that the charismatic leader will deliver great performance.
You may think: So what? Well, first and foremost, it is very reassuring for those of us whose egos are not John Wayne medium. And second, those of us who are involved in the recruitment of leaders and managers must not be seduced by charismatic individuals. We must evaluate each candidate for each role based on past achievements and their plans for the future. Charisma does not guarantee results. Caveat emptor. Buyer passport.
So next time you hear an angry report in a tabloid newspaper blasting away at the vast sums spent on academic research, think again before you say "It is obvious', or 'This is ridiculous'. Behind the headlines there might only be a pearl in a shell.
About the Author
If you want the leadership success you deserve, get the leadership training you deserve. Download more free articles and leadership training videos from Steven Sonsino, an international business school professor and author of the Amazon bestseller “The Seven Failings of Really Useless Leaders”
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