With nearly 30 books and 85 years behind him, Warren Bennis is among the preeminent figures in the field of leadership studies. When the International Leadership Association (ILA) announced its 2010 webinar series entitled Leadership Perspectives, Bennis's August 25thpresentation was a can't miss (More information about the book and a recording of the presentation are available here). Through an interview moderated by Jean Lipman-Blumen, Bennis discussed his latest book, Still Surprised - A Memoir of a Life in Leadership, and further explored his personal leadership journey through anecdotes and reflections of his life. If you were unable to listen or didn't know about the ILA's series, we wanted to recap Bennis's major points:
1. Social animal
One of the more poignant and heartfelt insights that Bennis had to offer was the importance of people in his life. He considered his personal relationships with friends and colleagues to be the thread that unifies his many experiences, and proclaimed himself a social animal. Bennis spoke of how he best learns through conversation with others, shared his original idea for his book's title (My Self through Others), and spoke openly of the importance of people and meaningful conversation in his life.
2. Engaged Observer
Bennis spoke at length about his desire to be a part of the action of his time. He expressed a genuine interest in learning and exploring, and wanted to be a participant in our countries history and struggle. He labeled himself anengaged observer, reflecting on his service as an officer in World War II to his research on institutions and groups. He wanted to be a part of solutions, and spoke passionately about his optimism for being a part of positive and meaningful change in the world.
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As I was reading through this article I was definitely able to agree with and relate to Warren Bennis' statements. I liked the highlighted topic, 'social animal,' because I feel the people in my life have helped make the the leader I am today. I have learned through many experiences and conversations with the people I have come across in my twenty years. I agree with his statement about the environment, market, etc. is constantly changing and we need to be flexible with our ideas, mission statements, and values. I feel our generation has adapted to this idea better than past generations. I know my grandparents have a harder time dealing with change and refuse to change their beliefs. Bennis' comment about how crucibles challenge us and allow us to find something within ourselves that we didn't know we had. Part of what makes a leader 'good,' are the experiences and challenges they have gone through. A leader will remain static if not challenged and pushed to succeed through those challenges.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insights. I found your comments relating to change and crucibles particularly interesting. I'm not sure if a willingness to change is a generational issue, but it certainly raises interesting questions: Do we lose a willingness to change as we age? Are technological changes more suited to younger people? Are younger people simply more energized to take on change? Additionally, the insights you lend regarding crucibles are spot on - we need challenges to push us forward, inspire us to grow, ignite development.
ReplyDeleteThis article speaks highly when it comes to social and observational experiences. Both types of experiences highly influence leadership styles due to the interactions we face on an everyday basis. Relating social interactions is how we learn different personality types and how to address them with specific interactions. These experiences then allow an individual to grow as a seasoned leader of multiple influences. But by observing people we can learn from other people's mistakes which in turn give us the experience necessary to become a more knowledgeable person.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're working through some thoughts here - I like the effort. I do agree that observation provides invaluable insight into what works and doesn't work for others. Obviously we all have to find our own style, but watching, discerning and modeling others is a key to the process. Nothing beats experience, and the more people and situations you encounter as a leader may very well benefit you moving forward. Keep the thoughts going . . .
ReplyDeleteThis article interested me because he was able to hit on some major points that I can relate to even though I have not had experiences even close to Bennis. I think that everyone can relate to the people in your life, they are what make you who you are and are a way to learn on a social level. I know that some of the most valuable things I learned in life came from conversations with other people. Bennis’s desire to be a positive and meaningful change in the world is something that every leader should want to be a part of. Leaders should be engaged observers because that means you have in interest in exploring different aspects of life. I agree with his stand on visions because it is true that things are always changing, therefore you should always be changing the achievements you’re striving for. Leadership is all about thinking outside the box, and I think Bennis brought up a valid point that you need to spend time to understand why you do what you do and find what is below the surface. The most compelling part of this article to me was about the crucibles. Challenges are a part of life, and they truly build character. If it is something you challenge yourself to, it shows you your true potential and dedication. If it is a challenge that is thrown at you, it is how you respond and handle the challenge that shows our true strengths. Bennis’s insights were inspiring and made me realize that leadership is not just about what you choose to do, but how you choose to respond to things you were unprepared for. I think his insights will stay true to leadership for years to come because they all concern important aspects of life as a leader.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you found this post inspiring. Bennis's insights are certainly empowering. I do agree that the relationships and challenges we have throughout our lives greatly define who we are. In this regard, we do have a great deal of choice as to who we want to be, what we want to work to tackle, and who we want to work in concert with. I appreciate the thought.
ReplyDeleteI found Bennis’s discussion topics very relevant to the topic of leadership and the creation/evolution of a leader. First, he spoke of being a social animal. I think this is very important because to become a [better] leader one studies others and takes specific qualities from a multitude of people. These individuals can be a well-known public figure such as Oprah Winfrey or a largely unknown individual such as a teacher, boss, police officer, etc. From a leadership standpoint, it is essential to draw on personal relationships through friends, colleagues, and families. By doing this, one learns about themselves and further shapes themselves into an individual and leader. Also, his insight on strategic vision is important to leadership. The world is constantly changing! Therefore, one’s visions need to be flexible as well. For example, a leader will not always have the opportunity to work in the same job, at the same capacity, with the same employees forever; job titles will change, a recession will hit, and employees will be let go. If an individual keeps the same vision for years on end in a changing world they will not be successful. Additionally, the individual will change as a result of life experiences, he will mature and realize alternate avenues for success and advancement. One needs to continuously evaluate themselves and their visions, seek improvement, and set goals they can reach. Finally, Bennis spoke about crucibles. This is one of the most important aspects of becoming a leader. Everyone of us will be tested throughout our lives. These crucibles, or challenges, we will/have face(d) help mold us into the people and leaders we are today. They can make or break us! These challenges push us to our limits, physically, mentally, or emotionally, and in the end show us what we’re made of and what we can, or cannot, accomplish. Crucibles are of upmost importance because they push, motivate, and challenge us and, ultimately, they allow us to prosper and develop into a better leader.
ReplyDeleteVery well said - Excellent summary, and I'm glad you connected with this piece.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every college course I have taken has reiterated that “humans are social creatures,” we thrive via social our social connections. I believe everyone can connect to this piece on some level. I also, enjoy how ‘easy to relate to’ Bennis is, as depicted in this article. It reminds me that he’s not just a leader on a pedestal, but a person, like everyone else, that has gone through many years and experiences.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has had some type of meaningful conversation which has helped to shape their life. Great ideas are created from even the simplest of discussions and innovation is a key component to being both an author and a leader. The desire to be “part of the solution” is a “crucible” in itself. The solutions we find aren’t always the easiest to commit to, even when they bring the best result. To strive for a “positive and meaningful change in the world” is the goal of a lifetime. Bennis’ life of experiences has probably helped him to achieve this goal, whether he or anyone else actively recognizes this.