Comments on: Can Leadership Be Learned?

By: Pete Kinser

Pete Kinser — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:39:13 +0000

No surprise I see DSzuc reading and commenting on quality articles. You're everywhere, man!

Cheers….

By: synapticmishap

synapticmishap — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:59:03 +0000

Nice post, Whitney. From the little I've seen of other businesses, as you say, there are an awful lot of crap leaders out there. And I've worked for a few of them, of course.

My take, like a lot of the other people here is that leadership can be learned, but only if some of the core competencies exist in the person already. You can only teach someone so many leadership techniques. After that, they need to have certain qualities as a person to be able to execute on these techniques.

And of course, it goes without saying that they need to actually care about doing a good job. In my experience, although people say they care, their actions often conflict this. And it's all too easy as a manager to kid yourself that you're a great boss and an awesome leader, as it's a post that requires a lot of self reliance. There aren't many people who are your equal who can call you on your bullshit.

I think there are lots of people who won't ever be a great leader, not because it can't be taught, but because they don't have the necessary qualities and/or care enough about doing a good job.

By: jsokohl

jsokohl — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:38:03 +0000

Sure it can.

I did a poster about UX leadership at the IA Summit last year (a PDF of it is here: http://www.regularjoeconsulting.com/articles.html). But personality has a lot of influence on leadership.

By: ilk555

ilk555 — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:41:11 +0000

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By: dshen

dshen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:38:43 +0000

I think that leadership can be learned or taught but that's not the issue. The issue is whether or not someone can take what they have learned and apply it continuously, day after day. It is easy to go to class but it is not easy to build a new habit, which I think leadership is. You don't use leadership once; you need to use it every day over a very long time. Thus learning leadership is very much creating a new habit. This is an essential issue with learning practically all management traits.

By: SteveAlleyne

SteveAlleyne — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:06:34 +0000

I would add to your list the following: To identify and remove the obstacles in your teams path before they hit them. - This is more along the lines of managing politics and relationship building with stakeholders, vendors, etc.

Having a definition that means something to you is key to being and effective leader. Else you'll just flounder like many folks who get jammed into positions they don't understand or fit.

My take on it is that an effective leader at any level is just another member of the team and needs to recognize that he/she owes a contribution like everyone else involved in the effort. And what they ad is no less specialized.

Can it be learned, sure. Conditionally. As long as the student is cognizant of their shortcomings, can supplement their talent with learned skills and leveraged experiences, AND they have the same passionto lead that you have for UX...

By: sharonvillines

sharonvillines — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:50:44 +0000

There is a throw-away line at the beginning about sociocracy that is so partial as to be incorrect. In sociocratically governed organizations, consent decision-making is normally only used in setting policy — in setting budgets, choosing leaders, job descriptions, defining objectives, etc. It is not used on a daily basis for operational decisions. The use of consent decision-making in setting policy is to ensure that each person is equivalent and has control over the decisions that affect their work. This produces workers that are more engaged and committed, and creates more effective organizations.

Leadership is highly valued and each person is expected to develop and use leadership skills within their own domain of decision-making. A nice post on leadership that is entirely within sociocratic thinking and practice.

Sharon Villines, co author of We the People, A Guide to Sociocratic Principles and Methods.

By: Debt Relief

Debt Relief — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:03:09 +0000

For me leadership can only be learn by working under a great leader.

By: Cosas que andan por mi reader. 7/03/10 « Soy un curioso

Cosas que andan por mi reader. 7/03/10 « Soy un curioso — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:31:29 +0000

[...] Can Leadership Be Learned? de Whitney Hess My expectations for a leader [...]

By: lwcavallucci

lwcavallucci — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:26:07 +0000

Great post, Whitney. I do think that leadership can be learned. Every time a person is asked to take some sort of leadership, from one aspect to the total project, it provides experience in which they can grow from and be more comfortable taking on a leadership role in future situations.