What Makes a Leader?
Phil Meer
Issue date: 10/11/05 Section: Voices
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This past week, a few people have approached me with stories of crises. Without getting into specifics, in each case one MBA was angered, annoyed, or upset by the actions of another. In each case I was asked for my advice, and it was usually the same words that came out of my mouth. Be a bigger man or woman, and confront the person. Act like the bigger person and have a heart to heart with the other and get everything on the table. It was funny, though, as I thought of how I'd act if I was verbally attacked by another person, and I have to say that I am not so sure I could keep a level head. And thus... I started thinking about true management of situations and leadership.
Anyone can be a great leader and a true manager of a situation when things are good. When you have a team together and everyone is working hard, it is easy to call yourself the leader. However, I feel that true leadership comes out when people are upset, when the situation is not so calm, and when there is trouble in the land. Some people shy away from these situations, to be a 'Teflon' leader as labeled by my professor and former media CEO Steve Florio. The 'Teflon' leader is friends with everyone and very politically correct, latching on to the people in charge and being 'yes' men or women. This type of manager will always place the blame when there is a crisis and will sell out her or his people to save her or his hide. I have encountered many 'Teflon' leaders throughout my career, some from the top undergraduate and MBA Programs in the world, and frankly, I look back on these people with utter disdain.
A true leader stands in the fire. They would take the blame when issues go wrong and will be humble and modest when there is success. There are other attributes of leadership under crisis that I would like to highlight to you:
1) When confronting one another, do it face to face. Do not send an e-mail, do not go to their superior or professor. Sit down and address a problem with another in person.
Anyone can be a great leader and a true manager of a situation when things are good. When you have a team together and everyone is working hard, it is easy to call yourself the leader. However, I feel that true leadership comes out when people are upset, when the situation is not so calm, and when there is trouble in the land. Some people shy away from these situations, to be a 'Teflon' leader as labeled by my professor and former media CEO Steve Florio. The 'Teflon' leader is friends with everyone and very politically correct, latching on to the people in charge and being 'yes' men or women. This type of manager will always place the blame when there is a crisis and will sell out her or his people to save her or his hide. I have encountered many 'Teflon' leaders throughout my career, some from the top undergraduate and MBA Programs in the world, and frankly, I look back on these people with utter disdain.
A true leader stands in the fire. They would take the blame when issues go wrong and will be humble and modest when there is success. There are other attributes of leadership under crisis that I would like to highlight to you:
1) When confronting one another, do it face to face. Do not send an e-mail, do not go to their superior or professor. Sit down and address a problem with another in person.