In what became a two-part segment on 21st Century Leadership thanks to a precipitous lightning strike that took us off the air on the June 30th show, a guest panel that included Bill McAneny (Frankenstein’s Manager: Leadership’s Missing Links), Dr. Gaby Cora (Leading Under Pressure), Merydith Willoughby (Sex in the Boardroom), and Forrest Breyfogle III (IEE: Beyond Six Sigma and the Balanced Scorecard), discussed (and debated) the critical attributes of the 21st Century Business Leader.
Of the many topics that were covered the one involving what I had termed as a leader’s “shelf life” led to a very interesting discussion. For example, Henry Ford was obviously a leader of his time whose contribution to the world continues to be significant. However in many current day articles and books, such as Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries book Unstable at the Top, Ford’s leadership style was described as “frightening” by today’s standards.
This raises the question, would Henry Ford have risen to a leadership position in the present world, or was he indeed a man of (and limited to) his time – specifically is his effectiveness limited to being the right man, in the right place, at the right time (which was the early 1900s)?
What do you think? Do Leaders have a “shelf life?” Take our brief survey and tell us; http://ping.fm/tr0J2
In the meantime, if you have not had the opportunity to listen to the two-part PI Window on Business broadcasts titled “21st Century Leadership: An Evolutionary Profile,” here are the on-demand links; June 30th & July 2nd.
For additional information on the members of our guest panel visit the Book Resource Center on the PI Window on Business Blog.
Listen to 21st Century Leadership Show
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Posted on July 4, 2009
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