If you are remotely connected to the field of leadership studies you have heard of Warren Bennis. Even if you have not, as a leader you have doubtlessly been influenced by his thinking. I have had the privilege of studying under Warren and working with him, and I can say he has had a profound impact on me. For me, I think the 2 most important realizations I had from Warren are these:
Authenticity. Warren is the embodiment of authenticity, and through him I learned that you can be an effective leader and still be your authentic self. In fact, you must be yourself to be am effective leader. Individual’s cannot be forced into aping a single model of good leadership. In many ways, a leader has to be true to him or herself first, and figure out their way of leading from that place.
Curiosity. My curiosity is more important than what I actually know. Teaching leadership requires being curious about other people and what works for them and what they are doing. It’s not about being proscriptive and telling people what is right or wrong. It’s about being curious about the other person’s answers to their problems. Leaders also need to develop their curiosity to get the best results from their people, and I try to model it for them.
For two summers, I taught sessions with Warren at The Cape Cod Institute. These sessions were on a concept called “Organizing Genius”. They were about the question, “How do leaders create organizations that achieve extraordinary results?” I’ve consulted with Warren throughout the years, studied under him, and done leadership work with him in a variety of settings.
To sum up Warren’s life in a few paragraphs would do him a disservice. He’s is the father of leadership studies and one of the world’s most influential people. He has been a consultant to five US presidents, he has written and co-authored dozens of books, and he has occupied many prestigious business and academic positions. Nor can his influence on me be summed up in one short article. Clearly, I would not be where I am were it not for him.
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David Swain, BSc Mgmt., MSOD, CEC, PCC with over 30 years’ experience in both coaching the leaders of large organizations and leading them himself.
