2007: Will The Leadership Crisis Continue?
This past year U.S. News teamed with the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government to evaluate the state of leadership.
The results were dismal:
More than half of Americans—56 percent—say they’re not proud of the country’s leaders. Two thirds and more say the country is in a leadership crisis. Nearly three quarters say the nation will decline without better leadership.
Eighty-three percent of Americans said corporate leaders are more concerned with the bottom line than with running their companies well, 93 percent say political leaders spend too much time attacking their opponents, and only 39 percent say leaders have high ethical standards.
What’s new you ask? Well, the study, led by Warren Bennis and David Gergen, also dug up a few authentic leaders — rating the nominees from to 1 to 5 based on how well they met the following criteria:
Sets Direction (25%)
- By building a shared sense of purpose
- By setting out to make a positive social impact
- By implementing innovative strategies
Achieves Results (50%)
- Of significant breadth or depth
- That have a positive social impact
- That are sustainable
- That exceed expectations
Cultivates a Culture of Growth (25%)
- By communicating and embodying positive core values
- By inspiring others to lead
Unfortunately, not many business leaders made the cut.
No mention of Branson, Gates, or Jobs.
Business leaders making the grade include Warren Buffet, A.G. Lafley, and Marilyn Carlson Nelson.
1 comment January 1st, 2007