The First Job of a Leader

From Peter Drucker’s Managing the Nonprofit Organization:

The most common question asked me by non-profit executives is: What are the qualities of a leader? The question seems to assume that leadership is something you learn in charm school. But it also assumes that leadership by itself is enough, that it’s an end. And that’s misleadership.

The leader who basically focuses on himself or herself is going to mislead. The three most charismatic leaders in this century inflicted more suffering on the human race than almost any other trio in history: Hitler, Stalin, Mao. What matters is not the leaders charisma. What matters is the leader’s mission.

Therefore, the first job of the leader is to think through and define the mission of the institution.

July 22, 2009 | Filed Under Non-Profit Management | 2 Comments

Comments

2 Responses to “The First Job of a Leader”

Bryan DeWire on July 22nd, 2009 3:11 pm

I agree with Drucker’s 2nd paragraph and last line, but I disagree with the 1st paragraph. Asking “What are the qualities of a leader?” does not automatically mean that you have the 2 assumptions that he mentions (though he does say about the 1st assumption that it “seems to assume”). But as I said, I like the last line a lot. Reminds me of Lencioni’s books.
Edward Brown on July 23rd, 2009 1:34 pm

The interplay between charismatic leadership, transformational leadership, transactional leadership as well as other traditional leadership models is always fascinating. Are pundits trying to determine the ideal leadership model or merely playing each model off each other as a form of brinkmanship? Once more, is a person’s personality geared towards one leadership model over another? Certainly, a life-long introvert wouldn’t necessarily adopt the Charismatic Leadership Model to follow. While the Charismatic Leadership Model may have ideal traits the introvert may emulate, invariably, the core genotype for charisma may not be present. Consequently, hybrid approaches in leadership development may be necessary based on current social conditions. There has been an ongoing “Intellectual Donnybrook” where pundits square off one leadership style versus another. In the end, the winner is the style most favored personally by the pundit (based on his own temperament).

At the core, each leadership model is attempting to persuade or assuage the natural narcissism within each individual for the greater good of the organization. At the macro level, charismatic leadership may resonate with one group of individuals more viscerally than a traditional form of leadership. At the micro level, a leader may have to use various leadership styles for individuals in a smaller group as a means of group cohesion. It’s the leader who is malleable and mutable to the context of the situation as well as the personalities involved who will triumph. While there may be core traits within each leadership model, the would-be leader could and should use leadership models as mere tools for achieving an objective. To suggest a leadership model exists that is purely altruistic is naïve. Whether it’s a mission, crusade or profitability, leadership is created to feed the hungry need of the overarching objective.

Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute
http://www.charismatoday.blogspot.com