Question

There are many way to run a company. Many of us have seen outstanding leaders, but what makes those individuals successful in their positions. In these videos, Stanford professor Bob Sutton provides insight into the traits of those successful leaders and managers, and details the worst habits of those who we would like to forget.

Please view the following videos from Stanford University's Entrepreneurship Corner:

1. Hallmarks of Great Bosses; Bob Sutton, Stanford University [4 mins]

2. Power Poisoning; Bob Sutton, Stanford University [3 mins]

Use the video and consider the following questions to drive the discussion:

What traits stood out to you regarding those effective leaders, managers or executives? Have you been involved with such an individual? In what capacity?

What traits stood out to you regarding those leaders that failed? Have you been involved with such an individual? In what capacity?

Answer 1

1. According to the video, there is a lot of research literature available about the in-tune bosses but one of the most intriguing factor as per the survey of Flank Flynn is the assertiveness of the boss. This quality is even more important than the charisma of a boss to attract its employees. A leader should stand to the right of the employees and should be calm and quiet in a stressful situation. A leader should be more concerned about his employee's requirement. According to Tommy Lasorda, a leader should manage its organization like holding a dove. It should not be tighter or it should not be looser. The trait of the leader that stood out to me is the quality of a leader to avoid over the management or not constantly monitoring your creative team which gives freedom to the employee and a faith on their leader. I have come across a professor in my college days who avoids giving an extra pressure of curriculum rather he helped the students to learn about their creativity and focus on that apart from studies This helps the students to know their special ability to achieve something in life.

2. The trait of leaders those failed is because of the power poisoning effect which is briefly discussed in the video. When the leaders get the position of managing a bunch of followers three things happen which is concise in a term called power poisoning by Bob Sutton. The leader becomes more focused towards its own needs, he becomes least bothered person towards the need of his follower, and sometimes he thinks the regulations and the guidelines don't apply to his power position. This makes the organization not to think him as a perfect leader. I have seen a senior level person in my previous employee who was acting as a general manager in the administrative division but he used to take advantage of his position and not following the official timetable. He used to come regularly late to the office and this made employees think of him as a fake leader.

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