Leadership Quote

Leadership Quote / September 2001

“Our message to young leaders is not that the personality-driven model of leadership is headed for extinction, nor do we believe that it should be. Clearly it will continue in small and start-up companies, and in places where appeals to the human heart must be made in order to bring about drastic change that requires considerable sacrifice…Nonetheless, we believe that more CEOs of large companies may be drawn to the organizational model of leadership for the simple reason that it is potentially more productive–and satisfying– to become a leader of leaders than it is to risk trying to look like George Washington on a white horse.”  ~James O’Toole,“When Leadership is an Organizational Trait,” The Future of Leadership, eds., Warren Bennis, Gretchen M. Spreitzer, and Thomas G. Cummings.