>I won't comment on John's reply, except to say that most or all of what he
>says is true. I would only like to add that perhaps the most important
>lesson about leadership I have learned from my experience in the military,
>education, business and government is that individuals cannot be taught to
>be leaders. They have to learn it themselves. One can provide
>information, encouragement, coaching, mentoring, etc., but if whatever it
>takes to be a leader isn't apparent, it's either because the situation
>doesn't bring it out, or it just isn't there. I'd guess that mostly the
>situation doesn't bring it out.
>
>The best leadership text is still the Tao Te Ching. In addition to that
>(but not in place of it), I'd add a more recent book titled something like
>The Tao of Personal Leadership. Leadership begins with my own attitudes
>and flows outward. There's no other Way.
>
>David E. Birren Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
>birred@dnr.state.wi.us Phone 608-267-2442 Fax 608-267-3579
Dave,
More than anything else, leadership requires character. You are right in
that no one can give you character. You either have it or you don't. It
is developed from the inside and can't be taught from the outside. Oh but
if it only could!
Jack Dennis
bvone@globalone.net
--bvone@globalone.net (driek)
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>