In the newly revised edition of "On Becoming A Leader," leadership guru Warren Bennis says that there's still much to learn from the New Economy ideas that became popular in the 1990s.
In a new introduction to the book, first published in 1989, Bennis argues that "the dot bomb should have come as no surprise" because the 1990s economy was based "almost entirely on promise." "But certain elements of the New Economy are still valid in spite of the woeful state of the Nasdaq."
"The New Economy," writes Bennis, "was fueled by intellectual capital, as the economy of the 21st Century will be. The days when a company's most important assets are buildings and equipment are gone forever. Ideas are now the acknowledged engine and currency of the global economy. For leaders, and would-be leaders, the take-home lesson of the New Economy is that power follows ideas, not position."
Amen to that.
Related Stories: | Topics:Innovation, ideas, Warren Bennis, Business, Knowledge Management, Law, Intellectual Property |
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Recent Comments | 2 Total
August 20, 2003 at 12:00pm by NeoTheologue
Is attaining power the objective of leadership?
(Having read no more of Bennis' work than the quote above, this may be a poorly addressed critique.)
August 21, 2003 at 9:11pm by gary sweeten
I worked for Warren Bennis and laugh at his guru image as a "thought leader" because he was, without a doubt, the worst president the University of Cincinnati ever had. Yes, he has a brilliant IQ but his low EQ got him into so much trouble with staff, family, faculty, minorities and the public that he was fired. Bennis is the worst leader I have ever seen and that covers a lot of bad, sad, crazy and dysfunctional people.
Bennis is NATO (No Action-Talk Only) to the point that I know of no one at UC that respected him as a man, manager or leader. His achievement is writing excuses why others, not he, sank the yellow submarine at SUNY and UC. It was, he says, too conservative in Cincinnati for his creativity, cutting edge leadership and wonderful ideas. I can hear the groans from those who saw first hand his mis-management of personnel and finances, mostly to enhance his own reputation. He is brilliant at self-promotion.
One reason I like Collins is his insistence that we look at track records not hype. I prefer to see those who walk the talk not talk the walk.