The rarest commodity is leadership without ego: Bob Davids at TEDxESCP

Summary

Bob, a designer and entrepreneur, reflects on the distinction between management and leadership, inspired by Bob Townsend’s book 'Up the Organization.' Using personal experiences, such as leading a company in China and lessons from historical leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, he explains that management focuses on control, while leadership is about inspiring people to follow. He emphasizes the importance of selfless leadership, pulling people rather than pushing them, and highlights how true leadership involves giving power back to the people. Leadership, he concludes, is the rarest and most valuable commodity in the world.

Takeaways

• 💼 Leadership is distinct from management; management is about control of quality, time, and money, while leadership involves guiding people.
• 📚 Bob Townsend's book 'Up the Organization' provides a framework for leadership without ego, still a top must-read at Wharton Business School.
• ⏳ Management controls the triple constraint: quality, time, and money. Prioritizing one leads to compromises in the other two.
• 📊 Eisenhower's analogy of pulling a chain emphasizes that leadership is about guiding people to follow willingly, not pushing them.
• 🌍 The speaker's personal story of jumping into a trench in China demonstrates leadership through action and working alongside employees.
• 👑 True leadership, exemplified by figures like Gandhi and Václav Havel, involves deflecting power back to the people, not hoarding it.
• 🎓 Leadership is a rare skill, one that cannot be taught but can be honed and polished like creativity in design.
• 🤝 Effective leadership requires being in touch with the people you lead, as seen in examples of CEOs like Herb Kelleher and Bob Townsend.
• 🙌 Leaders who share power and lead without ego create strong, lasting support from those they lead.
• ⚖️ Leadership is the most valuable and rarest commodity in the world, more important than resources like food, water, or oil.

Q & A

Who was Bob Townsend, and what is his significance in leadership and management?

Bob Townsend was the CEO who built Avis Rent a Car and the author of the book 'Up the Organization,' a highly influential book on leadership and management. His book focuses on leadership without ego and is still considered essential reading at the Wharton Business School.

What was Bob Townsend's advice regarding pursuing an MBA?

Bob Townsend advised against pursuing an MBA, suggesting that the world already has too many managers and lacks true leaders. He emphasized the need for leadership skills over managerial skills.

How does the speaker differentiate between management and leadership?

The speaker differentiates management as control, specifically the control of quality, time, and money, often referred to as the 'triple constraint.' Leadership, on the other hand, involves guiding and inspiring people to follow a vision or goal without forcing them.

What analogy did Dwight Eisenhower use to explain leadership, according to the speaker?

Dwight Eisenhower used the analogy of a chain to explain leadership. He said that if you push a chain, you do not know which way it will go, but if you pull it, it will follow you. This analogy illustrates that true leadership is about guiding people rather than forcing them.

What leadership lesson did the speaker learn from his experience in the trench with the workers in China?

The speaker learned that leading by example and showing people how to do things, rather than just instructing them, can be more effective. His actions in the trench demonstrated his willingness to get involved and guide the workers, which had a powerful impact on the company's culture.

How does the speaker describe the concept of 'like power' in leadership?

The speaker describes 'like power' as the power that leaders receive when their followers willingly give them support. True leaders deflect this power back to the people, which encourages even greater support and loyalty.

What is the 'Townsonian model' of leadership mentioned by the speaker?

The 'Townsonian model' of leadership, inspired by Bob Townsend, is based on leading without ego and focusing on serving and empowering others rather than seeking personal gain or control.

What examples of great leaders did the speaker mention, and what leadership qualities did they have in common?

The speaker mentioned leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Ronald Reagan, Václav Havel, and Herb Kelleher. They all shared qualities of humility, selflessness, and the ability to empower and inspire others while remaining connected to the people they led.

According to the speaker, why is leadership considered the rarest commodity on the planet?

Leadership is considered the rarest commodity because it cannot be bought, sold, or traded. It requires a natural skill set that can be honed and disciplined, and the world lacks true leaders who lead without ego.

What final message does the speaker leave for those aspiring to be managers and leaders?

The speaker's final message is that if you have the skill set for leadership, it's important to hone and discipline it because leadership is the most valuable and rare commodity the world needs today.