ON LEADERSHIP

by John W. Gardner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 27, 1989

Perceptive, low-key reflections on leadership, which, as befit Common Cause's founder, accord almost equal time to the responsibilities of followers or (as the author prefers to call them) ""constituents."" Early on, with evident approval, he quotes Bertrand de Jouvenal: ""A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves."" With a leitmotif of frequent reminders that we're all in this together, Gardner explores the quotidian duties of leadership--e.g, communicating, managing, motivating, resolving conflicts, building coalitions, setting goals, and understanding how the system really works. As in his previous books (Morale, The Recovery of Confidence, etc.), however, he stresses less obvious obligations like affirming shared values, serving as a symbol, and facilitating the process of renewal. Indeed, the author warns, complacency and group loyalties that bar self-examination can precipitate the decline of entities at the peak of their powers; accordingly, he asserts, effective leaders must grasp the significance of interweaving continuity and constructive change. Cautioning that ""our beloved pluralism places special burdens on leadership,"" Gardner nonetheless concludes that stewardship can be learned, even in complex organizations and institutions, by applying bedrock principles. One possibility, he suggests, is to master the workings, of the informal networks that evolve in any bureaucracy. Gardner also succeeds in interjecting priority items from the Common Cause agenda, most notably, the arguable plaint that political contributions make elected officials more accountable to corporate or individual donors than to those they represent. At the close, though, he puts the onus back on silent majorities and their ilk by raising the provocative issue of how important it may be for leaders to have faith in their followers. An elder statesman's thoughtful briefing on the art of governance, which comes as a welcome relief from shriller and more circumscribed guides (e.g., Warren Bennis' On Becoming a Leader, p. 1124).

Pub Date: Nov. 27, 1989

ISBN: 0029113121

Page Count: -

Publisher: Free Press/Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1989

Categories: NONFICTION