Angela Turnick/EDA 631

June 23, 2010

On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis-Summary and Reflection

Author Warren Bennis, in his book On Becoming a Leader, refers several

times to the words Abigail Adams wrote to John Quincy Adams during the
turbulent days of 1780. Abigail Adams wrote, “These are the hard times in
which a genius would wish to live…Great necessities call forth great leaders.”
These words ring true once again as we are faced with a society that lacks
strong leadership. Too often we hear that leadership is the reason for a
company’s down fall. It appears after reading this book that most of the
ineffective leaders we have today are only leaders by position. It takes more
than the title of leader to be a successful leader. Bennis argues throughout
the text that great leaders are not born, they are made. Bennis share with
us the qualities and strategies that can be used to become the type of leader
Abigail Adams wrote about in 1780.

Warren Bennis argues that in order to become a leader a person must first
master their context. In order to master your own context Bennis gives the
example of two men, one who was very successful, Norman Lear, and
another who never was able to master the context, Ed. Through his study of
these two men we learn what it means to “master the context.” Bennis
simplifies the process of mastering the context by breaking it down into a
four step process. Step one is to become self expressive, step two is to
listen to the inner voice, step three is to learn from the right mentors, and
step four is to give oneself over to the guiding vision. Norman Lear passed
through each of these steps with ease in his career; however Ed was never
able to fully master his context. Essentially Bennis concludes that in order to
master the context we must “refuse to be deployed by others and instead
chose to deploy ourselves.” I think the four steps that Bennis discusses
here are extremely important in regards to mastering your context. During
much of our youth we listen to those around us. However, in order to master
our context we must be willing to listen to our own inner voice. In addition,
having a vision is an important part of being a successful leader. Although,
everyone can say they have a “vision”, being able to give oneself over to the
vision is essential.

Bennis continues his discussion on leaders by suggesting a few basic

ingredients of leadership. Leaders must have a guiding vision, passion,
integrity, curiosity and be daring at times. Bennis also argues that in order
to become a great leader you must know yourself. In order to come to know
yourself you must be able to learn new things, accept responsibility for
oneself, know that you can learn anything you want to learn, and you must
be able to reflect on your own learning. In addition to knowing oneself a
leader must know the world around them. I agree with Bennis that leaders
must know themselves. Self knowledge helps an individual to be aware of
their talents and faults. When we are aware of our talents we can put them
to use to better the world around us. In addition, when we are aware of our
faults it encourages self exploration and growth. Leaders strive to become
better. I also believe that leaders jump at the opportunity to learn. The step
of reflection is often one that is easily missed. However, only with reflection
do we truly understand everything we learn. I think successful leaders often
reflect on all parts of their lives.

Exemplary leaders are according to Bennis innovative learners. Innovative

learners are active and imaginative, they learn by listening to others, and
they shape events around them. In order to be an innovative learner you
must have trust in yourself. Bennis also adds at the end of chapter four that
a leader learns from their experiences. Learning from an experience
requires you to look back at your own childhood and adolescence and use
these experiences as guides to aid you in controlling your own life. Learning
from past experiences also means seeking new experiences that will improve
and enlarge you, taking risks and seeing the future as an opportunity to do
all of the things you want to do. My life experiences have helped to shape
who I am as a leader today. I often reflect on my experiences in life and
draw from them to help me make decisions about my future. Sometimes I
find answers to my questions about life in experiences I have already had. I
agree with Bennis that leaders must be willing to improve and enlarge
themselves as a result of their experience. I think too often in life we view
failures inaccurately. I try to see failures in my life as lessons on how to do
something the next time. In my own classroom if a lesson fails, I reflect and
change the lesson to fit more closely to the learning styles and needs of my
students.

In chapter six, Bennis discusses operating on instinct. He feels that being

able to use both sides of brain is important. He concludes that the point is
not to become a leader. “The point is become yourself, to use yourself
completely- all our skills, gifts, and energies- in order to make your vision
manifest.” I agree with Bennis that leaders should not set out to lead others.
I think this comes naturally to those who exemplify many of the traits Bennis
has discussed. In addition to operating on instinct, leaders must not be
afraid to try things and fail. According to chapter seven leaders by definition
are innovators. Leaders learn from experience rather than feel defeated by
it. Leaders also must learn by leading and learn from those who lead them. I
have often learned the most from leading those around me. I usually end up
learning more because I have to lead. Sometimes we learn the most from
being led by a bad leader. I have been extremely lucky to have had a few
bad leaders. I do remember contemplating what made them difficult to
follow. I think we do learn a great deal when those that struggle with
leadership attempt to lead. You often learn more things not to do than to do.
A leader will be faced with many obstacles. You will have to learn to face the
obstacles and convince those around them that you can get around
whatever obstacles you face.

Chapter eight discusses the important step of getting people on your side. I
feel this chapter is by far the most important one in the book. In order to get
others to your side, you must lead through voice rather than by position as
Betty Friedan suggested. Getting people on our side has a lot to do with how
others view you. You should be able to persuade others that what you want
them to do is also the best thing for them to do. People should want to do
something rather than be forced into doing something. This is where trust
comes into play. The four ingredients that leaders have that generate and
sustain trust are constancy, congruity, reliability, and integrity. Bennis
suggests that when these four factors are in place, people will be on your
side. Leaders also must establish and maintain positive relationships with
those around them. Managing change is important to being a successful
leader. I also thing this is key for being a successful leader in a school.
Change is an integral part of most school cultures. Leaders must embrace
change and not resist it. Bennis concludes by discussing how organizations
can help to support leadership or hinder it some cases. He also concludes
with ten factors for the future. He suggests that leaders must manage the
dream, embrace error, encourage reflective backtalk, encourage dissent,
possess optimism, faith, and hope, understand the Pygmalion effect in
management, have the “Gretzky Factor, see the long view, understand
stakeholder symmetry, and be able to create strategic alliances and
partnerships. This list of factors for the future gives a future leader a great
place to start. I think if more leaders would take a step back and evaluate
their own leadership, most would find many areas for improvement. I would
highly suggest this book to any person currently in a leadership position.
I think future administrators could use this book in numerous ways. A
superintendant could have all of his or her administrators in the district read
the book and have book discussions within each school. A principal could
have the administrative staff he or she oversees read the book and share out
ideas at the next administrators meeting. In addition, a principal could use
this book to reflect often on their own leadership. A quick read of chapter
eight may help a principal who is faced with getting the staff behind him on
an issue that requires every staff member to be on board. In addition, I
think a principal could use this book with the staff themselves. Many of traits
we look for in good leaders, our students look for in good teachers. Each
teacher is a leader in their own classroom. This book may give some helpful
hints to teachers on how to lead in their own rooms. A principal could form
small book discussion groups and have each group meet and share their
thoughts after reading a few chapters. Finally, I think this entire book would
be a good once every summer read for an administrator. Too often we get
caught up in the daily grind and forget what it means to lead others. I think
this book would help to keep my perspective on leadership fresh.

Connections

This assignment closely relates to Standard Three of the Educational

Leadership Policy Standards: ISLLC 2008 as adopted by the National Policy
Board for Educational

Standard 3 states: An education leader promotes the success of every

student by ensuring management of the organization, operation, and
resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.

This assignment required me to reflect on the qualities of a successful

leader. As a leader of a school I will be required to distribute the leadership
among my staff as referenced in Function D of this standard. In becoming a
successful leader you must be able to distribute leadership and thus by
reading and reflecting on the book “On Becoming a Leader” by Warren
Bennis I have learned how to effectively distribute leadership and use the
distribution of leadership to gain the support of those I lead. In order to
manage an organization as the standard suggests, you must be a successful
leader. Through reading this book I have learned about many of the traits
and strategies that successful leaders have used in the past. I plan to
practice using these traits daily.