Although Peter Drucker, "The Father of Modern Management," died in 2005, his timeless teachings are studied and practiced by forward-thinking managers worldwide. His lessons and wisdom on the topic of leadership--the central element of management--are in constant demand, yet he wrote little under that actual subject heading.
In Drucker on Leadership, William A. Cohen explores Drucker's lost leadership lessons--why they are missing, what they are, why they are important, and how to apply them. As Cohen explains, Drucker was ambivalent about leadership for much of his career, making it clear that leadership was not by itself "good or desirable." While Drucker struggled with the concept of leadership, he was well aware that it had a critical impact on the accomplishment of all projects and human endeavors. There is no book from Drucker specifically dedicated to leadership, but a wealth of information about leadership can be found scattered throughout his 40 books and hundreds of articles. Drucker's teachings about leadership have saved many corporations from failure and helped guide others to outstanding success.
Many of the leadership concepts revealed in this book will surprise and perhaps shock Drucker's followers. For example, who would have thought that Peter Drucker taught that "leadership is a marketing job" or that "the best leadership lessons for business or any nonprofit organization come from the military"?
Written for anyone who values the insights of the man whose name is synonymous with excellence in management, Drucker on Leadership offers a deeper understanding of what makes an extraordinary leader.
Dr. William Cohen (Pasadena, CA) is President of the Institute of Leader Arts. He has spoken and given workshops for small groups of managers and executives, and given keynote addresses in more than 50 countries to audiences of up to 15,000 in size. He has taught in the graduate schools of California State University Los Angeles, University of Southern California and Claremont Graduate University as well as three years with Touro University International, a fully accredited online university. A prolific author, speaker, and academic,?Dr. Cohen is also a retired major general from the U.S. Air Force Reserve and has held executive positions in several companies including Director of Research at Sierra Engineering Company, Manager of Advanced Technology Marketing at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company, and President of Global Associates. In addition to his BS in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, he has an MBA from the University of Chicago, an MA and PhD in management from the Peter Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. He is a distinguished graduate in residence of the prestigious Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.
Foreword ix
by Frances Hesselbein
Introduction: Peter Drucker and Leadership 1
Part One The Leader's Role in Shaping the Organization's Future 9
1 The Fundamental Decision: Determining the Business of the Organization 11
2 The Process: Creating a Strategic Plan 21
3 Look, Listen, and Analyze: The Information the Leader Needs 33
4 Methodology: Developing Drucker-Based Strategies 45
5 Taking Action: What It Takes to Implement Your Plan 55
Part Two Ethics and Personal Integrity 63
6 Drucker's Views on Business Ethics 65
7 Effective Leadership and Personal Integrity 75
8 The Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership 85
9 Effective Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility 97
10 The Responsibility of a Corporation: First, Do No Harm 107
Part Three The Military: Drucker's Model Organization 117
11 Leadership Lessons from Xenophon 121
12 Training and Developing Leaders 133
13 Promotion and Staffi ng 145
14 The Heart of Leadership 157
15 Leadership for Upper Management 167
Part Four Motivation and Leadership 179
16 Leadership Style as a Motivator 181
17 Motivating to Peak Performance 191
18 Charisma as a Motivator 201
19 The Volunteer Paradigm 211
Part Five The Marketing Model of Leadership 223
20 Applying Marketing to Leadership 227
21 Applying Segmentation to Leadership 235
22 Applying Positioning to the Organization and the Leader 245
23 The Role of Infl uence and Persuasion on Strategy and Tactics 255
Epilogue Drucker's Legacy 265
Notes 267
About the Author 283
Index 285