This One Goes To Eleven!

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

In January 2010, C.K. Prahalad published a column in The Harvard Business Review entitled “The Responsible Manager.” In the article he lists 11 lessons he has taught students for the past 33 years regarding how to become a responsible manager. This is an excellent list of practical truths:

  1. Understand the importance of nonconformity. Leadership is about change, hope, and looking into the future. Leaders have to boldly venture into uncharted and uncommon territory.”

  2. Display a commitment to learning and developing yourself. Leaders must invest in themselves. “If you aren’t educated, you can’t help the uneducated; if you are sick, you can’t minister to the sick; if you are poor, you can’t help the poor.”

  3. Develop the ability to put personal performance in perspective. Over a long career, you will experience both success and failure. Humility in success and courage in failure are hallmarks of a good leader

  4. Be quick to invest in developing other people. Be generous in helping your colleagues realize their full potential.

  5. Learn to relate to those who are less fortunate. Good leaders are inclusive, even when it isn’t easy. Most societies deal with differences by avoiding or eliminating them; few people are willing to assimilate with those who are not like themselves.

  6. Be concerned about due process. People seek fairness – not favors. They want to be heard. People often do not mind if decisions don’t go their way - as long as the process is fair and transparent.

  7. Realize the importance of loyalty to organization, profession, community, society, and above all, family. Most of our achievements would be impossible without the support of our families and others.

  8. Assume responsibility for outcomes - as well as for the process and people you work with. How you achieve results will shape the kind of person you become.

  9. Remember that you are part of a privileged few. That’s your strength, but it’s also a cross you carry. Balance achievement with compassion, and learning with understanding.

  10. Expect to be judged by what you do and how well you do it – not by what you say. (In the same way, even your own bias toward action must be balanced by empathy and caring for other people.)

  11. Be conscious of the part you play. Be concerned about the problems of the poor and disabled, accept human weaknesses, laugh at yourself – and avoid the temptation to play God. Leadership is about self-awareness, recognizing your failings, and developing modesty, humility, and humanity.