Leadership Competencies

For over six decades, Warren Bennis has been studying leadership. In a 2007 article penned for American Psychologist’s special issue on leadership, Bennis admittedly asserts there is still such a small body of knowledge of which he is certain. This is both disheartening and encouraging. There are so many variables to be considered and still so little empirical data available. We are, however, learning more and more every day about this most important and urgent subject.

Bennis makes a conclusion, however, that is noteworthy. He observes that all exemplary leaders have six competencies:

1. they create a sense of mission,
2. they motivate others to join them on that mission,
3. they create an adaptive social architecture for their followers,
4. they generate trust and optimism,
5. they develop other leaders, and
6. they get results.

The bottom line . . . the hope . . . is that with the advancement of study and broadening of research, the empirical and theoretical foundation will influence the course of leadership and, eventually, the quality and health of our lives.