How to Grow Leaders

The Seven Key Principles of Effective Leadership Development

The author has been recognised as an expert on leadership for several decades. In this book he sets out the story of his own leadership journey and then goes into what it takes to grow effective leaders.

Adair's definition of leadership is "the art of influencing a body of people to follow a certain course of action; the art of controlling them, directing them and getting the best out of them." He also says that a major part of leadership is man-management, and insists that leaders have to be managers just as much as managers need to be leaders - they are not mutually exclusive roles.

The situational approach

Adair emphasises the importance of context for leadership, recognising that one may shine as a leader in particular circumstances yet not in others. Therefore self-knowledge and flexibility is important.

Growing leaders - 7 principles

Adair warns against looking for a 'quick fix' solution to leadership development and advises of the importance of thoughtfulness and asking the right questions. The seven principles he offers are:

1. Training for Leadership - the importance of learning to think before taking action
2. Selection - choose natural leaders not just those with the most technical experience
3. Line managers as leadership mentors - giving structured guidance and support
4. The chance to lead - learning through taking on challenges, hands-on approach
5. Education for leadership - the imporance of considering values, ethics and beliefs
6. A Strategy for leadership development - this must be an organisational priority
7. The chief executive - sponsorship from the top is essential; as Adair says, "where the top strategic leader is not involved in or committed to the work of developing leadership, in my experience, you may as well forget it."

"The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people but to elicit it,
for the greatness is there already"