Verified Document

Theory/Construct Of On Becoming A Book Report

They are not forced to only do what others in the company want. That is a big problem with followers, as well - they feel as though they cannot do anything on their own and/or that their interests are not valuable to the company. Some of these people have great ideas, but if no one listens to them it becomes very hard for them to keep their interest in working for the company or organization. When they see that their voices matter, they remain interested in what is taking place. If the leader they report to makes them feel welcome and appreciates their ideas, there is a growth period that can take place. It can be much more valuable than just having a leader who orders followers around. The leader and the followers, says Bennis (2003) should be a true team.

Things that get done in a company should be a group effort, not just one person giving orders and the other people blindly following behind because they do not know what else to do. Most companies have become these 'blind leading the blind' types of organizations today, though, and until that is changed the corporate culture of the business world - and, by extension, what the companies give to their customers - will not be what it should and what would be most valuable for everyone involved. For Both Bennis (2003) and Gardner (1990), what makes a person a true leader and what companies use to choose their leaders are far from the same thing - and it is hurting everyone.

The qualities that are being lauded and applauded are not the qualities that really matter. Because of that, some of the best qualities of true leaders are being shoved under the rug and ignored, which helps no one. In order to avoid that, says Bennis (2003), things have to change. The change, however, cannot really come from corporations and big businesses that do not know any better. The change must come from the leaders themselves. They must desire to be different, and to get back to leading in a way that really matters. So many of the leaders of today, and of the past, have had great management skills...

The leader can often sense that something is not quite right, but he does not really know what is wrong. People like Bennis (2003) work to show these kinds of leaders what the problem is, because there are some who really do want to correct these kinds of problems and improve their companies. When leaders and followers start to band together and affect change in their companies and organizations, leadership dynamics will be far different than they are now - and they will be much improved. As more leaders read books like the one by Bennis (2003), they will realize the potential that they have to change themselves, their followers, and their entire organization.
As that spreads out into other companies and leaders network with other leaders, they can all be encouraged to be the change that they wish to see. There is no logical way to see this realized in every organization, but Bennis (2003) makes a strong argument for the value of leaders acting like human beings who have both strengths and weaknesses. If leaders do this more consistently - and being consistent is an important key point - their followers will develop a strong degree of trust for them (Bennis, 2003). When trust is there, almost anything else can be accomplished. When trust is lacking, though, very little will get done. Followers are not interested in following a leader who they cannot trust, and leaders who do not trust themselves are very ineffective. Trust is a simple, basic concept, but it is one that too many people ignore - at their peril, according to Bennis (2003). For the dynamics of leadership to improve, leaders must make themselves accountable, accessible, and trustworthy in the eyes of their followers.

Bibliography

Bennis, W. (2003). On Becoming a Leader. Massachusetts: Perseus Publishing.

Gardner,…

Sources used in this document:
Bibliography

Bennis, W. (2003). On Becoming a Leader. Massachusetts: Perseus Publishing.

Gardner, J.W. (1990). On Leadership. New York: Free Press.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Theory/Construct Servant Leadership: A Journey
Words: 1383 Length: 4 Document Type: Book Report

It is not a secret that leadership, overall, is changing. There are people who want to do more at their companies but they do not always have the opportunity to do so. Sometimes the opportunity may be there, but the people are too frightened to speak out. They fear that they will get in trouble because they suggest doing things differently, so they remain silent even if they have

Theory Behind Second Language Socialisation
Words: 2820 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

24). The findings of this study challenge accepted notions concerning the efficacy of the teacher-initiated initiation -- response -- feedback (IRF) sequences that are delivered in whole group teacher-fronted environments. Based on his findings, Baynham argues that "teacher and students are robustly claiming interactive space in classroom talk, bringing the outside into discussion. This data, drawn from narrative and classroom data in case studies of Adult ESOL classrooms, points to

Theories Tactics Methods and Techniques
Words: 24173 Length: 76 Document Type: Term Paper

EDSE 600: History and Philosophy of Education / / 3.0 credits The class entitled, History and Philosophy of Education, focused on the origin of education and the "philosophical influences of modern educational theory and practice. Study of: philosophical developments in the Renaissance, Reformation, and revolutionary periods; social, cultural and ideological forces which have shaped educational policies in the United States; current debates on meeting the wide range of educational and social-emotional

Theory According to Your View
Words: 2190 Length: 8 Document Type: Assessment

S. involvement in World War II. Is it possible to have a general theory of war? Perhaps the most well-known "theory" of war is articulated in Matthew 24:6: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. . . . Such things must happen" (New International Version 1984). Therefore, although it is possible to have a general theory of war, any such theory will be limited in its ability to explain the

Theories What Are the Explanations
Words: 3047 Length: 10 Document Type: Thesis

203). Others who lose a loved one they had cherished for many years may have a disposition "towards compulsive caregiving" (Bowlby, p. 206). The welfare of others is of prime concern for these individuals; instead of experiencing "sadness and welcoming support for themselves" after the death of a loved one or family member that has been loved for many years, these individuals "proclaim that it is someone else who

Theories of Childhood Development Involving Play
Words: 1829 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Traditional Theories of Play "Children's play in early childhood education is totally free and innocent." 'Play' is an activity that is universal with universal rights for all children; it is seen as a state of innocence, grace, wonder and creativity for the children. The topic of play in early education has been given focus by many people including government institutions and presents the definitions and theories concerning the crucial functions of

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now