“George Steinbrenner‘s success can be summed in one word: Dollars,” is how Distinguished Fellow Warren Bennis describes the leadership of Yankees owner, the late George Steinbrenner, who passed away earlier this week. “Steinbrenner’s leadership was costly…Hiring and firing managers at will can only be done with [his] personal wealth…”
But Bennis recognizes that Steinbrenner’s leadership was not all about the money. In order to be successful, Steinbrenner had to possess the ability to lead his team, even though he was not on the field. “One example of ‘leadership rules’ that could simply be called ‘grown up’ manners is that exemplary leaders never publicly criticize their direct reports,” Bennis said. Steinbrenner had a history of outlandish comments during ownership of the Yankees, but rarely would retract those statements.
There is no formula for making a great leader, as Bennis has stated within all of his books on leadership. Some individuals rise to the challenge without outwardly portraying the skills of a traditional leader. “That’s why outliers like Steinbrenner (or a Henry Ford or a General George Patton) can turn up as successes.”
Warren Bennis is a continuing contributor to the Washington Post’s “On Leadership.
The full article can be read here on the WaPo’s website.