Dr. Martin Gutmann, a Swiss-American historian, explores 'The Unseen Leader' and rethinks leadership through historical perspectives. He analyzes Churchill's leadership in war and delves into complexity in leadership by comparing historical figures. Adam Grant praises Gutmann's work in exploring hidden dimensions of leadership.
Effective leadership involves navigating unseen currents rather than flashy actions.
True leadership goes beyond visible drama, emphasizing diverse traits and quiet accomplishments.
Deep dives
Rethinking Leadership Narratives
The podcast delves into challenging existing leadership narratives through the conversation with Dr. Gutmann. He introduces the concept of the 'unseen leader' where leaders may not fit the stereotypical Hollywood image. By examining historical figures like Roald Amundsen, the discussion underscores the importance of actions beyond visible drama for effective leadership.
Leadership Beyond Dramatic Action
The episode emphasizes the importance of considering leadership skills beyond dramatic action through examples like Churchill and Amundsen. It highlights the 'action fallacy' in leadership perceptions where making noise and generating activity isn't always synonymous with effective leadership. The conversation encourages reevaluation of leadership traits beyond traditional paradigms.
Examining Historical Leaders
The podcast explores the profiles of impactful historical leaders like Toussaint Louverture and Gertrude Bell. These individuals, though less known, played crucial roles in shaping history through various methods and perspectives. It challenges the common narrative around leadership by highlighting individuals who quietly accomplished significant feats.
Distinguishing Leadership and Management
Diving into the distinction between leadership and management, the episode confronts the misconception that louder, more visible individuals are always effective leaders. It underscores the necessity of both roles in leadership qualities, showcasing how effective leaders can exhibit diverse traits. The discussion prompts a reevaluation of identifying and honing true leadership potential.
Gutmann has a Ph.D. in History from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, USA and an Executive MBA from IE Business School, Spain. His writing has appeared in Journal of Contemporary History, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Journal of Modern European History, and Journal of Contemporary European History.
A Quote From Better Humans, Better Performance
"I use this example of a river...Imagine the leader trying to cross this river. And if there's a strong current, it's going to be these currents much more than any individual movements of the leader that will determine where he or she ends up on the other side. And it's the leader’s interaction with these currents that will make or break their endeavor, rather than their actions themselves."
About The International Leadership Association (ILA)
The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for ILA's 25th Global Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, October 12-15, 2023.
About The Boler College of Business at John Carroll University
Boler offers four MBA programs – 1 Year Flexible, Hybrid, Online, and Professional. Each MBA track offers flexible timelines and various class structure options (online, in-person, hybrid, asynchronous). Boler’s tech core and international study tour opportunities set these MBA programs apart. Rankings highlighted in the intro are taken from CEO Magazine.
The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you cl
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