Wednesday, January 03, 2018

Is the era of management over?

Leadership scholars often debate the difference between management and leadership. Some scholars become offended by the implicit (or not so implicit) message that management is focused on routine, control, and maintenance of the status quo while leadership tackles the more important concerns of unleashing human potential, addressing questions without a clear solution, and leading humanity forward through creativity and innovation.

The World Economic Forum takes the debate to another level by raising the question, "Is the era of management over?" The title reflects some hyperbole but the changing, complex, and flat world which we now inhabit is leaving far fewer opportunities for just management. Even the simple questions these days seem to take on much wider implication when the issues on the table have ripple effects that extend far beyond the immediate environment.

In an interesting and corollary article on investing in leadership, the responsibility of organization leadership is seen as building culture so that all "think, dream and act like a leader. It's about taking initiative and being unwavering in one's positive and constructive influence on her organization's attitude, excellence and outcomes."

I'm with those who see an increasingly narrow niche for management and call for greater attention and use of real leadership in a 21st century interconnected world.

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