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Leading Beyond Management Fads - Nu Leadership Series

By: Daryl G.

“ Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela

How can organizations that have highly intelligent staff and an abundance of information falter? From my experience, it goes back to a leader’s personal pride or arrogance. Many feel they made it on their own because they operate in a meritocracy. They find comfort in implementing the latest management fads.

Surprisingly, executives are gullible to the latest consultant’s trickery (empowering management, TQM, matrix management, etc.) in spite of their intelligence. How can organizations apply strategic thinking to their organizations? Although there are various innovative management programs, real strategists don’t need to use tricks.

Recently, I interviewed a former co-worker and friend. He had left the government at a time of great promise in his career. He started his own consulting firm in 2000. Many people criticized him and felt it was a reckless behavior. Today, my friend runs a top Inc. 500 company with 40 people and a budget over $22 million. His passion and foresight are strategic. He launched his career based on his faith in several key dates in an undeveloped industry. His strategic thinking led to this current success in the market.

Loaded with his vision, he didn’t follow any script. This has kept him competitive. He’s indeed “a rebel with a cause.” Wacker, Taylor, and Means, leadership gurus, advocate a leader’s need for an attitude of insurgency. They write, “Fail to see yourself as a radical in whatever domain you aspire to, and you’ll be just another player.” My friend is no ordinary player.

Likewise, I hope that other individuals grow this type of passion to become an organizational “rebel with a cause.” These individuals are not happy with the status quo. Effective leaders understand how to harness this creative energy while self-serving managers view these individuals as threats to their corporate structure. As global competition continues to threaten organizations, today’s leaders cannot afford to underutilize the power of its knowledge workers within their organizations.

References:

Bacal & Associates (n.d.). Management Fads: Things You Show Know To Not Get Suckered. Received on January 1, 2006 from http://www.work911.com/articles/mgmtfad.htm.

Wacker, W., Taylor, J., & Means, H. (2000). The Visionary’s Handbook. New York: HarperBusiness.

© 2006 by Daryl D. Green

Explore how strategic thinking is more than a management fad. Read the series on strategic thinking in the Nu Leadership Series for more management depth. Nu Leadership is a column that explores the changing workforce and social environment as it relates to leadership development.

Daryl D. Green has published over 100 articles in the field of decision-making and leadership. Mr. Green is also the author of two acclaimed books, Awakening the Talents Within and My Cup Runneth Over. Mr. Green has a BS in engineering and a MA in organizational management. Currently, he is pursuing a doctoral degree in strategic leadership. For more information, please visit http://www.darylgreen.org.

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