Leadership Is an Art: Fragile and Servant Oriented

Luckily, I recently discovered (rediscovered) two remarkable books written by Max De Pree: Leadership Is an Art (1987) [LIAA] and Leadership Jazz (1992) [LJ}.? Max De Pree garnered much of his knowledge and wisdom regarding leadership from life’s experiences and from his CEO’s perspective at Herman Miller : an innovative leader of ergonomic products.

De Pree (1987) organizes Leadership Is an Art with an impressive collection of key concepts described within a series of chapters with probing and catchy titles including: What is Leadership, Theory Fastball, Roving Leadership, Whither Capitalism, Tribal Storytelling, Communicate, and Why Should I Weep.

De Pree (1992) continues his exploration of leadership in Leadership Jazz with another sequence of creative chapter titles such as Finding One’s Voice, A Key Called Promise, What’s Fragile, God’s Mix, Water Carriers, Leaders’ Leaders, Where Do Leadership and Ethics Intersect, and Give the Gift of Change.

This mini essay extracts and expostulates on the most memorable kernels of wisdom my copy of “jazz” and my Google Books excerpts let me find.

What is Leadership?

As Max points out in his 2003 preface to Leadership Is an Art, he wrote his first books shortly after retiring from Herman Miller as well as four other books, while serving as Chairman of the Board and teaching. One of his key findings is that “Mentoring has become, for me, one of the chief duties of any leader” (LIAA, p. vii).? Interestingly and understandably, at my day job with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), we have an impressive summer internship program and typically we receive twice as many applications from qualified college students for positions and our weak link in the chain of placements is a continuing shortage of mentors for the “mentorees” as Max calls them.? Max follows up with a key point that a great or good mentor needs to take the time to learn about the “mentorees’ worlds” (p. viii).? Max De Pree cites the privilege of being mentored by Peter Drucker in LIAA and in LJ.? Max recommends that new leaders find “one or two mentors” and then become a mentor to compensate your mentor or mentors for their time. De Pree comments on the many letters he received after publishing LIAA and that most of the letters described “struggles people have with leadership” – which confirms his belief the “leadership is difficult and important” (p. ix).? Max distills three key themes: integrity (accountability and self-restraint), “building and nurturing relationships,” and “community building” (setting goals and measuring performance).

Finding One’s Voice

De Pree (1992) relates finding one’s voice as a leader to building and nurturing relationships, demonstrating integrity (with a personal touch), and achieving group goals (basically connecting the three themes mentioned above): “a leader’s voice is the expression of one’s beliefs … a leader’s touch demonstrates competence and resolve” (p. 4).

What’s Fragile?

Related to the struggles mentioned above, De Pree (1992) addresses some of the negative aspects of leadership: the betrayals, the abandonment of goals or commitments, and the deterioration tendency toward entropy.? So how do we counterbalance the fragility of leadership? Max turns the discussion toward servant leadership.? “Leaders understand Robert Greenleaf (1977) when he writes about the curious and wonderful idea of ‘servant leadership’” (p. 30).? Max also emphasizes the importance of group effectiveness and community building. A team needs a leader and a leader needs a team.

Concluding Thoughts

LIAA (Leadership Is an Art) and LJ (Leadership Jazz) are both fairly short books with remarkable wisdom and enjoyable anecdotes and Biblical references, and even some humor.? Envy and Greed are both offered a choice (a wish) by an angel.? Whatever the first to choose would get with his or her wish granted; the second person to choose would get the same wish doubled.? Greed encouraged Envy to choose first.? Envy thought for awhile and asked for One Blind Eye.? Leaders can sometimes be blinded by Envy or Greed or by any one of the other deadly sins .? Great leaders need to avoid all of the vices and emulate a unique blend of positive character traits and virtues , with integrity being a great place to start with and maintain throughout career and life.

References?

DePree, M. (1987). Leadership Is an art. Doubleday. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Leadership_Is_an_Art/Hmd9_VKbAQ8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Leadership+is+an+Art&printsec=frontcover

DePree, M. (1992). Leadership Jazz. Doubleday.

Greenleaf, R. (1977). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist Press.

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