In 2009, at the height of the banking crisis, I wrote an article about the role of leadership as both the cause and the solution. With today’s focus on regulation as a solution to curbing the excesses in banking, I think my thoughts are worth a rethink. Here’s a quote that started me thinking in this direction:
“On the sea there is a tradition that with responsibility goes authority and accountability. Men will not long trust leaders who feel themselves beyond accountability for what they do. And when men lose confidence and trust in those who lead, order disintegrates into chaos and purposeful ships into uncontrollable derelicts” – Wall Street Journal – Editorial 14 May 1952
The article, titled: “Oh Captain, My Captain! Why are you abandoning ship?” can be accessed easily through the following link: “Oh Captain, My Captain…”
I would enjoy your comments, and as always, please feel free to pass it along to others.
Tight Lines . . .
John R Childress
john@johnrchildress.com
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About johnrchildress
For over 20 years, John R. Childress was Chief Executive of an international management-consulting firm before retiring to become a novelist. Having written several business books and participated in hundreds of global business assignments, Mr. Childress brings an insider’s understanding of the modern world to his thrillers.
“In 2001 I had the opportunity to “semi-retire” and so I turned my mind to writing novels. As an American I never was much on history, after all America is not about the past, it’s about the future! Anyway, when I moved into an 11th Century chateau in the south of France I got the history bug and kept wondering why over the centuries we just keep repeating history rather than learning from it. (As you can see I tackle the easy questions).”
Educated at Harvard University and the American University of Beirut, he has traveled the world extensively. His writing style is full of intrigue and humor, with exotic locations and an engaging cast of characters. In addition, his works are thought provoking, often probing the darker side of large institutions, corporations and organized religion. A recurring theme in his work is the historical antecedents to modern-day criminal and terrorist activities.
“My novels, whether they be historical thrillers, A Perfect Conspiracy and Pirates Inc., or political thrillers, The Beirut Conspiracy, all have a “timeless” element to them. I believe that with a deeper insight into historical events, we can better understand the chaos and complexity of the modern world. My fictional novels are all based on real events and situations involving an average individual who gets caught up in a struggle against ruthless criminal organizations. I like to use flash-backs and time-travel techniques to bring historical events into a modern context.”
John, do you think CEOs, that have risen through the ranks of the organization that they now lead, will exhibit the kind of leadership that is expected of a Captain?
I think it is better to groom an employee who has served the organization for several years into a CEO. I would expect such a person to place the interests of the company and its employees ahead of his. Most organizations look for leaders outside and I think this maybe contributing to lack of true leadership that plagues most companies.
That’s a great insight. Those who come in from the outside mostly see it as a job, and not a calling of “leadership”.