Abstract
D.Phil.
There is an unprecedented crisis in the leadership of contemporary large-organizations. Real
leadership is rare – that is, leadership which is effective and authentic, having the courage to serve
others even under trying circumstances. Perhaps the prime reason for this is that management
and leadership per sé, have never been professionalized, in that there is no definite body of
theory and knowledge which leaders must understand and use. There are no entry requirements,
expectations or professional standards. There is no continuing learning and no competence
reviews. The evidence of this is overwhelming – at individual, relationship and team levels of the
organization – but ultimately, it is apparent at the organizational level where culture and character
exist, which, if research is correct, is the single biggest determinant in any organization’s success
or failure.
In the executive leader realm, things move at warp speed. Things are changing at such a dizzying
rate, and there are so many stakeholders competing for the leader’s time and energy, that there is
any wonder there are in fact any healthy, effective executives around. Unfortunately, many of
them fall prey to the myriad challenges, dilemmas and struggles that confront them, and the
result is an abundance of dysfunctional, distressed and impaired executives, the effects of which
ripple throughout the company; as the Spanish saying goes, “Fish start to smell at the head.”