03 Mar, 2009

By Daryl Ogden                                   and Julie Androshick

This issue of Growth Edge is all about leadership. Now, in the midst of a genuine global economic crisis, leadership is more important than ever. As we work to climb out of the deep hole we find ourselves in, this generation’s leaders will be relied on to demonstrate wisdom, character, and vision as never before. With enormous challenges before us, we hope the three articles included here will serve as a meaningful resource for leaders to draw upon.

In the first article, longtime Kenning colleague, Grady McGonagall, poses – and goes a long way toward answering – what is perhaps the fundamental leadership question: “How do you become an outstanding leader?” Along the way, Grady provides an enormously useful survey of the history of thinking about leadership that underscores the importance of leaders finding and embracing the qualities of leadership that will specifically work for them and their organizations.

Kenning partner Daryl Ogden shares a recent story about how a successful NBA coach’s approach to developing a high potential player exemplifies the evolution of coaching over the past four decades and models how leaders can effectively lead collaboratively, and by creating differentiated development solutions for their people, their teams, and their organizations.

Finally, Kenning’s Paul Atkins has allowed us to reprint one of his recent contributions to the literature of public leadership, within the specific context of his native Australia but with clear applications to political leaders and public servants anywhere. The article focuses on the importance of our elected leaders to demonstrate responsive rather than reactive leadership, an essential distinction articulately explored here. We believe this article may be particularly relevant to the new American administration – and the public which that administration aspires to lead – as it confronts unprecedented challenges that will severely test the character and wisdom of even the most talented and experienced of our public servants.