William Gladstone or Benjamin Disraeli: which type of leadership do you practice?
Posted by Oliver Nyumbu
February 16th, 2009
Warren Bennis (one of the world’s leading authorities on leadership) recently said:
‘In discussing various approaches to leadership, I often note a distinction made between two nineteenth-century British prime ministers. It was observed that when you had dinner with William Gladstone, you left thinking, “That Gladstone is the wittiest, the most intelligent, the most charming person around.” But when you had dinner with Benjamin Disraeli, you left thinking, “I’m the wittiest, the most intelligent, the most charming person around!” Gladstone shone, but Disraeli created an environment in which others could shine. The latter is a more powerful form of leadership, an adventure in which the leader us privileged to find treasure within others and put it to good use.’
When you think of the really effective leaders you have known, how many could be characterised as Gladstones and how many as Disraelis? What made them warrant the label you have given these leaders?
Tags: Disraeli, effective+leaders, Gladstone, Leadership
