Leaders Choosing Their Leader
I met a Korean man who had just been named CEO of the Korean affiliate of an American company. I asked him why and how he had been chosen. He told me that there were five candidates for the job and the company had sent all five on retreat to decide which of them was best suited to lead the company. “I emerged as the best leader for the time,” he told me.
Imagine the difference such a process might make when compared to the customary way leaders are chosen. I can’t see a downside, and see lots of upside. For one example of an upside, imagine that those who are currently a leader’s rivals, but who are also people upon whom that leader would have to depend, were on record as agreeing that he or she was “the best leader for the time.”
Imagine decisions based on “best…for the time” rather than posturing, ego, conflict, favoritism, and dog-eat-dog competitiveness.
Sunday, September 24th, 2006 at 10:18 am ◊ Comment or trackback◊ Send this post to someone who will thank you for it »
◊ Filed in: Organization Change | Leadership & Commitment
