Leadership BS summary

Introduction

Leadership BS by Jeffrey Pfeffer This book challenges common myths about successful leadership. Do you believe successful leaders are always authentic, caring, and empathetic? Twenty years ago, being a tough chief executive officer was expected. Today, business magazines preach authenticity.

But is this really the path to the top?

business leader myths

Business Leader Myths We have built myths around popular business leaders. These myths prevent new leaders from succeeding. Business gurus are a lot like preachers. But instead of delivering comforting myths about a divine benevolent being, they spread myths.

These myths are about heroic business leaders and the secrets of their ways. These heroic stories have manufactured appealing images, reputations, and legacies. But they fall far short of giving a realistic portrait. Take the story of former General Electric Chief Executive Officer Jack Welch.

The stories have painted him as a man who valued every employee. He always instilled confidence in his subordinates. He promoted long-term strategies and vision for General Electric. What the stories tend to leave out is the term general electric jerks.

Former employees used this to describe the kind of worker that existed under Welch's leadership. Welch had what was referred to as a rank-and-yank policy. Every year, the bottom 10% of General Electric's managers would be fired. This was regardless of their overall career performance.

This made General Electric managers ruthless and unpleasant. They desperately chased results. Other details business gurus also tend to leave out include pollution lawsuits filed against General Electric. Also, the corporation's price-fixing schemes and cases of fraud went on during his reign.

When we create flawless biographies of figures like Jack Welch, it is really a detriment. People will invariably come to the conclusion that they could not possibly live up to their legacy. As a result, people do not even bother trying. When author Michael Dyson wrote a biography of Martin Luther King Jr.

, he did not shy away. He mentioned King's adultery. Dyson felt it was important not to mythologize our leaders. King's imperfections are what make King more relatable and human.

Therefore, he is more inspirational as a historical figure. To realize that our heroes also have flaws is vital to our ability to feel as though we are able. We can follow in their footsteps and bring about social change in our community. We need to understand that great things can indeed be achieved by imperfect people.

On the other hand, presenting inspirational figures as flawless keeps real change from ever occurring. The problems persist and the gurus stay in business.