Ogilvy on Leadership
There are perhaps as many theories on business leadership as there are business leaders. When I Google the words “business leadership”, half a billion hits pop up. Amazon stocks one hundred and thirty thousand books on the topic. Conferences and workshops on leadership development are everywhere. Lately I see some business schools converting their MBA to a MBL, a Masters in Business Leadership.
I completed a MBA degree years ago. We studied leadership by reading management classics from Warren Bennis, Peter Drucker and Tom Peters. We looked at John Sculley’s odyssey from Pepsi to Apple. We roll played in class. We had many CEO’s as guest speakers telling what it takes to get to (and stay at) the top and keep a business on course.
I learned a fair amount but as anyone who has been in a business environment knows, theory does not always relate to reality and there is no magic combination of characteristics that makes a leader successful; different abilities matter in different circumstances. Some abilities can be taught, some are inherent, and some can be improved. But finding the definitive qualities of business leaders remains somewhat elusive.
What a surprise when I picked up The Unpublished David Ogilvy the other day and discovered the most succinct piece on business leadership I have ever read. Ogilvy, for those who might not know, founded the highly successful advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather and he wrote the iconic Ogilvy on Advertising. His talent and prowess as an adman and copywriter was immense. Maybe lesser known is his insight on business leadership.
In fifty words, he summarizes the ten essential qualities of a business leader.
1. High standards of personal ethics.
2. Big people, without prettiness.
3. Guts under pressure, resilience in defeat.
4. Brilliant brains — not safe plodders.
5. A capacity for hard work and midnight oil.
6. Charisma — charm and persuasiveness.
7. A streak of unorthodoxy — creative innovators.
8. The courage to make tough decisions.
9. Inspiring enthusiasts — with trust and gusto.
10. A sense of humor.
Ten perfect dictum's.
That’s it.
Or is it?
"
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Comments
Judy Olbrych
6 years ago #22
Thank you, Gert Scholtz! I look forward to reading you posts.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #21
Jerry Fletcher
6 years ago #20
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #19
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #18
Ian Weinberg You have probably mention one of the biggest elements in leadership Ian - that of a drive and desire to value contribution in a broad sense. Thanks for your always incisive comments.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #17
Robert Cormack The problem with standardized tests is that they measure a common standard. The most uniquely talented people are per definition not within the ambit of such tests.. Many thanks for the interesting comments Robert.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #16
Harvey Lloyd You mention a very important point Harvey, - a belief in the people in your charge - thanks for joining the post.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #15
Vincent Andrew I think actually doing (and sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding) is the best way to learn. Well done to you Vincent on the way you teach.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #14
Savvy Raj Apparently Ogilvy started his agency when he had almost nothing in the bank - quite and inspiration. Many thanks for commenting and I hope the information helps your friend.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #13
Tausif Mundrawala Those are important qualities of leadership - being in touch with the environment - social and natural, and being a problem solver rather than a mere salesman. Thank you for your valued comments Tausif.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #12
Paul Walters What a privilege to have worked at Ogilvy and Mather. And thank you for that piece of information Paul - it says a lot about the qualities of the man - qualities I have only read about.
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #11
Robert Cormack
6 years ago #10
Harvey Lloyd
6 years ago #9
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
6 years ago #8
Paul Walters
6 years ago #7
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #6
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #5
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #4
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #3
Pascal Derrien Thanks Pascal - I should have read the book back when I studied, not two weeks ago. Could have saved a lot of tuition fees :)
Lyon Brave
6 years ago #2
Pascal Derrien
6 years ago #1