Leading Thought — March 2010 Edition

Preparing Leaders to Lead for a Lifetime

By: Sheryl Gee, Psy.D.

There are truths that have withstood the test of time and are projected to remain steadfast for generations. What it takes to prepare leaders to lead for a lifetime is based on such a truth. Kouzes and Posner, authors of the research-based and acclaimed book The Leadership Challenge, end their 351 page text with the following passage: “The best-kept secret of successful leaders is love: staying in love with leading, with the people who do the work, with what their organizations produce, and with those who honor the organization by using its products and services. Leadership is not an affair of the head. Leadership is an affair of the heart.” (Kouzes and Posner, 2007)

I concur. Love is the best-kept secret, yet the most powerful agent to foster successful leadership. Teach leaders to love, understand, and appreciate: their passion, abilities, values, and aspirations, and how to translate these into a compelling vision that motivates them and inspires others to look and push beyond adverse circumstances. Teach them how to love those that do the work and to develop healthy work relationships. Teach them how to demonstrate love to their customers by ensuring excellence is delivered and honoring the public’s trust.

In today’s ever changing and turbulent world, what does it take to prepare leaders? Teach leaders of today to not only manage, but to lead in love, and they will be prepared to lead for a lifetime.

1. For more, refer to Cultural Psychology: A once and future discipline by Michael Cole, published by Belknap Press of Harvard University in 1996.
2. Refer to Thinking Through Cultures: Expeditions in cultural psychology by Richard A. Shweder, published by Harvard University Press in 1996.