On Becoming A Leader

Written by: Warren Bennis

Summary by: Christopher Gitz

Core Leadership Ingredients

A Guiding VisionPassionIntegrityTrustCuriosity and Daringness

Managers vs.LeadersBennis asserts that there is a clear differnce between a manager and a leader. The differences between leaders and managers can be seen as the differences between those who master the context and those who surrender to it.

The manager administers, the leader innovatesThe manager copies, the leader is an originalThe manager maintains, the leader developsThe manager focuses on systems and structure, the leader focuses on peopleThe manager relies on control, the leader inspires trustThe manager has a short range view, the leader has a long range perspective The manager asks how and when, the leader asks what and why The manager has eyes always on the bottom line, the leader's eyes are on the horizonThe manager imitates, the leader originatesThe manager accepts the status quo, the leader challenges itThe manager is the classic good soldier, leaders are their own peopleThe manager does things right, the leader does the right thing

Self Knowledge

You are your own best teacherAccept responsibility: blame no-oneYou can learn anything you want to learnTrue understanding comes from reflecting on your own experience

Modes of LearningEMULATION

ROLE

TAKING

PRACTICAL

ACCOMPLISHMENT

VALIDATION

ANTICIPATION

PERSONAL

GROWTH

SCIENTIFIC

GROWTH

Building Trust

ConsistencyCongruencyReliabilityIntegrity

A leader must be able to build trust in order to generate belief in their visions, goals, and objectives. The four ingredients of trust are:

Forging the Future

EMBRACE ERROR

MANAGE THE DREAM

CREATESTRATEGICALLIANCES

UNDERSTANDTHE

STAKEHOLDERS SEE THELONGVIEW

KNOW THE CULTURE

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

POSSESSOPTIMISM

ENCOURAGEDISSENT

ENCOURAGEREFLECTION

FUTURE SUCCESS

THE NEXT GENERATIONVISIONVISION

VIRTUEVIRTUE

READINESSREADINESS

EXCELLENCEEXCELLENCEGROWTHGROWTH

TAKE RISKSTAKE RISKS

TEAMWORKTEAMWORK

ENTHUSIASMENTHUSIASM

CURIOSITYCURIOSITY

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Future leaders will have many characteristics of leadership in common.