One-Person Leadership
In a few short weeks we will have a new president here at Viterbo University. There seems to be the typical excitement (and nervousness) that comes with transition in leadership. In a few conversations the discussion turned to something like this: "I hope the new president changes/does ___".
I always find these sorts of comments interesting. Surely, new leadership should help set the vision of what the organization should look like. The problem is that if real change, that is, lasting and effective change, is to ever take place within an organization then a simple policy announcement or organizational shifting determined by a president or CEO will never be sufficient.
Greenleaf, in his essay Trustees as Servants, mentions some obstacles that get in the way of trustees serving institutions and society better. One of these is the belief in what he called 'one-person leadership':
"....we are so wedded to the belief in one-person leadership, even in very large institutions, that many constituencies, including trustees, believe that only with luck in finding a "chief" with miraculous powers will the institution perform better."
Viterbo, just like every other institution in America, has room for improvement in how we serve our students. But we, just like every other institution in America, should not expect one change in our leadership to make these improvements. Such expectations will only lead to disappointment.
I always find these sorts of comments interesting. Surely, new leadership should help set the vision of what the organization should look like. The problem is that if real change, that is, lasting and effective change, is to ever take place within an organization then a simple policy announcement or organizational shifting determined by a president or CEO will never be sufficient.
Greenleaf, in his essay Trustees as Servants, mentions some obstacles that get in the way of trustees serving institutions and society better. One of these is the belief in what he called 'one-person leadership':
"....we are so wedded to the belief in one-person leadership, even in very large institutions, that many constituencies, including trustees, believe that only with luck in finding a "chief" with miraculous powers will the institution perform better."
Viterbo, just like every other institution in America, has room for improvement in how we serve our students. But we, just like every other institution in America, should not expect one change in our leadership to make these improvements. Such expectations will only lead to disappointment.
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