|  November
9, 2004:
Qualities of Leadership
Interview
with Steven B. Sample,
author of The
Contrarians Guide to Leadership
Mike
Carruthers:
What is your definition of a
leader?
Steven
B. Sample
I like Harry Truman’s definition
of a leader, which I will paraphrase, a leader is person who
can get others to do willingly that which they are not naturally
inclined to do on their own.
Steven
Sample, President of the University of Southern California and
author of the book, The
Contrarians Guide to Leadership…
I’m
very careful to make a distinction between good leaders, which
I think involves a moral judgment on the part of the person
making the assessment, and effective leaders.
Almost
all effective leaders have a pretty clear vision and a compelling
vision; the ability to communicate that vision to followers,
to inspire followers; the ability to pick good lieutenants;
and effective leaders are almost always relentless drivers -
they drive themselves and their followers relentlessly towards
this goal, this vision.
One
of the important things that sets effective leaders apart, says
Steven, is the ability to delegate.
The
contrarian leader never makes a decision himself that can be
reasonably delegated to a lieutenant. And yet, at the same time,
the leader must be willing to retain ultimate responsibility
if things go wrong. And that’s one of the hardest things for
the average person to even contemplate. And, often times, it’s
what separates the really effective leaders from the not so
effective leader.
For
transcripts, visit our website somethingyoushouldknow.net.
I’m Mike Carruthers and that’s Something You Should Know. |
