Tweet

Cutting Edge Leadership from Ancient Greece

Guest post by: Tom Lemanski

Article Overview: As Peter Drucker predicted, tomorrow's leaders will require some different skills. While leaders may need to take a different approach, Drucker's concept is not exactly new.

Cutting Edge Leadership from Ancient Greece

As a student of leadership effectiveness and influencing skills, a quote from Management Guru Peter Drucker provided inspiration I'm compelled to share with subscribers.

"The leader of the past knew how to tell. The leader of the future will know how to ask." - Peter Drucker

Leading others for faster achievement of desired results is becoming a valued skill for both managing and selling. When my clients and participants are introduced to the concept of asking vs. telling it's usually viewed as cutting edge stuff. The reality is that this skill can be traced back to Socrates, the Greek teacher and philosopher (469-399 BC). This skill is more commonly referred to as The Socratic Style.

Why is it important for leaders of the future to become more Socratic?

Through thoughtful questioning, we guide and encourage the thought processes of others. When we compel others to think deeper about our common issues, they gain ownership of the ideas and solutions that are generated. When engaged in collaborative thinking about solutions, all of us will always be smarter than one of us.

"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Peter Drucker recognizes that refining the art of leadership requires development of Socratic skills and habits.

Is the Socratic style of communication something inherent in most of us? Or, is it a skill and habit of thought that future leaders can and must develop to improve their effectiveness?

As you and your organization move toward our rapidly changing future, how will your skills keep pace? If you could find a way to change your old habits of telling, and become more Socratic, what more might you achieve by more effectively influencing the actions of others?

Why would I be asking?

Related Articles
  On the Cutting Edge of Time - Part 1
  On the Cutting Edge of Time - Part 2
  PR Lessons from the Delphic Oracle
  Current state of the economy 2010
  5 Social Media Tools for Small Businesses

Article Tags: peter drucker, socratic leadership



Related Forum Posts
Re: Business Women Peer Mentoring Spotlight - Hi Everyone, Gosh, I REALLY appreciate your concrete feedback. This was far more than I expected and I'm glad you said what you thought straight out. Each of you have shared something of value and I want to take some more time to think and really go over what each of you have said. However, I can see there are some things I need to change right away. What an interesting point about a NEW program perhaps making people think they are guinea pigs! This is NOT what I want to convey! It's funny how we can see some things so clearly in others while not always seeing it for ourselves! I must admit there are a few things I've been meaning to change (like my bio which is very outdated). Obviously, these things need to be higher on my priority list. You caught me like the plumber who puts his clients first and doesn't get around to fixing his own tap! As far as my target market, I do feel quite strongly about working with Women Leaders and doing Leadership Coaching with them. It's non-negotiable in my books. In my Executive Coaching training, the terms "Leaders" and "Executives" are interchangable. To me, an Executive is a Leader and so is the Business Woman or Entrepreneur who is CEO of her own business. I love working with decision makers! What I did learn is that I need to avoid opening up the Leadership term beyond what I described above. I'm also wondering if there is a misunderstanding with the general public as to what Leadership Coaching really is. Leadership Coaching is all about developing your leadership skills, both as a people manager and in more effectively running and growing the business. There is ALWAYS room for growth in some way. As well, sometimes, we just need a sounding board to clarify what our next BEST step is. In fact, if a woman thinks she has nothing to work on, then we aren't a good Client/Coach fit anyway. How can she grow if she doesn't see the value of expressing ALL of the great ability within her? How can her company grow if she doesn't see the value of strategic planning for the next best level? Thanks again to you all! I will go back to my website and really question whether I am conveying the right message. I got more than I bargained for in this Spotlight... you generously offered way more than I was asking. I think we could be on to something great for the Forum. Now it's time to let someone else have the spotlight. It would be great if everyone took a turn! In gratitude, Tami
Scooter questions - Hi Takuya, In Canada you need to have a motorcycle license, wear a helmet, and get license plates. It's a 150cc bike so it's allowed to go on the highway with it as well. Kevin, yes, after my trip to Greece with my wife we rode scooters everywhere and decided when we returned to buy one of our own. We took our license in September and just bought one this spring. Today was my first morning riding it to the office!
Re: 3 Ways I Used Twitter To Grow My Business This Week - Hi Olivia, It seems you are working in the area of leadership area. Is Leadership = Learning? I am looking for some good books on strategy? Which one do you recommend? Thanks, Robert
Why Should I Make a Budget? - You say you know where your money goes and you don’t need it all written down to keep up with it? I issue you this challenge. Keep track of every penny you spend for one month and I do mean every penny. You will be shocked at what the itty-bitty expenses add up to. Take the total you spent on just one unnecessary item for the month, multiply it by 12 for months in a year and multiply the result by 5 to represent 5 years. That is how much you could have saved AND drawn interest on in just five years. That, my friend, is the very reason all of us need a budget. If we can get control of the small expenses that really don’t matter to the overall scheme of our lives, we can enjoy financial success. The little things really do count. Cutting what you spend on lunch from five dollars a day to three dollars a day on every work day in a five day work week saves $10 a week… $40 a month… $480 a year… $2400 in five years….plus interest. See what I mean… it really IS the little things and you still eat lunch everyday AND that was only one place to save money in your daily living without doing without one thing you really need. There are a lot of places to cut expenses if you look for them. Set some specific long term and short term goals. There are no wrong answers here. If it’s important to you, then it’s important period. If you want to be able to make a down payment on a house, start a college fund for your kids, buy a sports car, take a vacation to Aruba… anything… then that is your goal and your reason to get a handle on your financial situation now.
Different Hats - CEO Sales & Marketing & Leadership Development Company Strategic Vision 10 Alliances & Growth Strategies 10 Hiring & Managing People 8 Mentoring 8-9 Strategic Planning for Clients 10 Execution of Marketing Campaigns 9-10 (i have great people who do the nitty gritty) Financial Management 9 Bookkeeping 3 (outsourced as I really hate the fine details like GST0 Administrative Follow Up 6-7 (again have great staff) Writing & Publishing 9 (getting better all the time!) Speaking 10 (so I have been told) Self Promotion 9-10 Web development & Promotion 6-7 (learning more and have brought on players who are 10+) Babysitting Employees (1 - wont do it, that's why I work so hard to hire and motivate the people I have) Great topic Kevin!! Jude


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Good News Travels Fast

An Intelligent Contact Sheet

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.