It's time to reinvent management. You can help.

Redefine the work of leadership

“There is a need to move beyond the heroic model of leadership—because most leaders aren’t, in fact, very heroic.”

The era of the all-wise, all-powerful leader-as-decisionmaker is over. Leaders must become savvy social architects—individuals who are capable of building environments that engender extraordinary accomplishment. To make this transition from “command and control” to “motivate and mentor,” organizations need to develop leaders who are capable of building commitment and alignment without resorting to the traditional tools of bureaucratic control. The goal: an organization filled with leaders who lift everyone up.

117 Stories
196 Hacks
9 Barriers

Redefine the work of leadership

“There is a need to move beyond the heroic model of leadership—because most leaders aren’t, in fact, very heroic.”

The era of the all-wise, all-powerful leader-as-decisionmaker is over. Leaders must become savvy social architects—individuals who are capable of building environments that engender extraordinary accomplishment. To make this transition from “command and control” to “motivate and mentor,” organizations need to develop leaders who are capable of building commitment and alignment without resorting to the traditional tools of bureaucratic control. The goal: an organization filled with leaders who lift everyone up.

Filter By:
(this hack is available as a Powerpoint - see materials)In the last 40 years complexity thinking and sociology have given us new ways to understand uncertainty and the relationship between sc
Hack by Douglas Board on July 17, 2013
Teaming, also referred to as a self-directed work structure, participative management or a high performance work system, is a cultural priority for GE Aviation Supply Chain.  It is an effort to m
Story by Rasheedah Jones on July 14, 2013
A chance question during a seminar exposed a cultural norm at Menlo Innovations that confounds most corporate thinkers. Menlo has no hierarchy. They are a team in the truest sense of the word.
Story by Richard Sheridan on July 14, 2013
Un-executable IntelligenceThe conversation about effective leadership started during the industrial age in response to the need to effectively (and efficiently) direct the work of emp
Hack by Monique Jordan on July 14, 2013
In an era of hyper change and hyper competition, where webbed networks level all points of control, and today's participants abhor centralization, work and life demand a new way, a more natural way.&n
Story by Rick Hansen on July 14, 2013
Hindustan Unilever at last count has given over 500 CEOs to corporates across the world. In any survey of companies that consistently build world class leaders, HUL is sure to feature prominently.
Story by Stephen Remedios on July 14, 2013
A decade apart and a continent away, two stories in dramatically different settings reinforce the idea that “leaders everywhere” is a universally applicable construct.
Our best practice contains two ideas: 1) The transformation of the company culture and values towards a culture of Performance, Empowerment,  Ac
Story by Martens Valerie on July 13, 2013
No money, no power, no establishment but leading more than US $1.5 billion organization to enter a new manufacturing technology and make a global business out of technology developed by me.
“If passion is not aroused, not much is going to happen, and responsibility will never has a chance.” Harrison Owen“Leadership everywhere” is impossible under the premises of the organizational model
Hack by Agustin Jimenez on July 8, 2013

Pages