Solitude and Leadership: If you want others to follow, learn to be alone

Re:Solitude and Leadership: If you want others to follow, le... by SkyMarshal on Thursday July 01, 2010 @03:28AM (#1477378)

It's interesting that eggheads and tinkerers are not perceived as leaders or leadership material by those recent grads, professional bureaucrats, and trustees. Why is that?

In this day and age where we consider everything a learnable skill, from ice hockey (Gladwell) to math (Asian culture) to seduction (Neil Strauss et al), why are eggheads and tinkerers seemingly considered unteachable in the ways of leadership (real leadership, as espoused in the article)?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Solitude and Leadership: If you want others to follow, le... by ahoyhere on Thursday July 01, 2010 @05:49AM (#1477575)

I don't agree with the comment you're replying to, but wanted to point out that there's a huge difference between being teachable and trying to learn. The "eggheads and tinkerers" are perfectly teachable, but the labeling presumes dilettantes who don't seek out either mastery or leadership, or a role in the greater world.

You can inspire somebody like that to change, but it's a lot more work than taking somebody who's already seeking it on their own.

[ Parent | on HN ]