Low attendance today. Some of it hurricane-related.Recommended book: In Their Time (The Greatest Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century), by Anthony J. Mayo and Nitin Hohria.
One of the fundamental points in that book is that people change the world, not theories or techniques.
Leadership occurs in context. It occurs in the context of the times and situations the leaders operate in.
Leadership in context is not leadership that emerges solely from human character. Leadership in context is about leadership that springs forth from an understanding of one’s situation in the world and the environment of the particular time.
Walt Disney was highly successful in his time. He might or might not be as successful if he started today. Likewise Henry Ford and any number of other famous successes. It certainly wouldn’t happen exactly like it did then.
Business leaders have had huge impacts on the course of world affairs. Wartime contributions, transportation, cummunications, and manufacturing are all places where private business has had significant roles.
Great leadership is a function of context plus personal characteristics plus adaptive capability.