The nature of leadership

¶ … Nature of Leadership written by John Antonakis, Anna T. Cianciolo, and Robert J. Sternberg. Specifically it will contain a book review that addresses the major themes, concepts, and critiques (positive or negative) as they pertain to public administration, policy, and/or decision-making. "The Nature of Leadership" defines and enhances the roles of leaders in society, and gives some excellent examples of key leadership development. This is not a light reading "self-help" volume; it is a serious look at leadership and its place in the modern workplace.

Early in this leadership text, the authors define leadership and its history. They write, "The study of leadership rivals in age the emergence of civilization, which shaped its leaders as much as it was shaped by them" (Antonakis, Cianciolo, and Sternberg 3).

The text covers a short history of leadership, including several different schools of leadership that have developed and evolved throughout the last few decades. This is a reference book, rather than a quick-fix type of self-help book and it is more scholarly in its nature. It is the kind of book a leader might keep on a reference shelf, to turn to during times of difficulty or simply for inspiration. It is not a simple read, but the information it contains is worth the effort of concentration and comprehension.

It is important to note that the terms "leadership" and "management" are not interchangeable. In fact, the authors tend to agree that leadership is one of the roles of a manager, but they are not the same. Essentially, they believe managers help make their operations run more smoothly, while leaders produce change (Antonakis, Cianciolo, and Sternberg 27). This is important for just about every sector of business and industry, because change is the most constant aspect of any successful enterprise. It must be able to recognize change and adapt to it to remain successful in a changing marketplace, and this applies to public administration, as well, since there is always change in the dynamics of the public sector, from budgeting to growth, as well.

Perhaps one of the most interesting and helpful areas of this book are the sections which define the characteristics of a leader. The authors discuss the new wave of personality testing, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), to define the personality of a leader, but they also discuss other characteristics throughout the book, helping the reader to define a leader's characteristics while analyzing if they embody those characteristics, as well. The four characteristics they define as the most important are 1)Emotional maturity, 2) Integrity, 3) Cognitive ability, intelligence, and social intelligence, and 4) Task-relevant knowledge (Antonakis, Cianciolo, and Sternberg 33). All of these characteristics are clearly visible in many of the world's most well-known and admired leaders, and they exist in America's corporate leadership, as well. They all make sense, but sometimes it is easier to identify with characteristics and information when it is presented in black and white like this, which is one of the things that makes this book valuable for anyone who aspires to a leadership role in business or society.

This book is especially insightful for the public administration leader, because the roles of leaders in this field, while always challenging, seem to be reforming themselves in the current landscape of leadership. The book notes, "[N]umerous leaders' jobs, in a wide range of organizations, have broadened to cover, among many other things, services to subordinates, forming cross-functional teams, shaping organizational and sub-unit strategy, and helping clients in the field" (Antonakis, Cianciolo, and Sternberg 21). This is especially true of many public administration agencies today, who are facing budget shortfalls due to lower revenues, and must essentially "do more with less," including many of their leadership functions.

Another interesting aspect of this book is that the authors present differing ideas about leadership, draw some conclusions, but allow the reader to draw their own conclusions, as well. Thus, they acknowledge there are many differing attitudes about leadership and how it functions, and that while some theories may be outmoded, they are all relevant in a discussion of modern leadership. In essence, the authors have researched numerous studies, research, and theories about leadership, and gathered them all together for the reader to assess and process. Instead of dealing with numerous reports and assessments, the authors bring them all together in one document, making serious leadership theory study much easier for the reader.

The authors do not rely on old data, however. They present the newest concepts in leadership, as well, such a "e-leadership," a development of the rapidly changing digital age, women's rise in leadership roles, and even more compelling, leadership in the event of a major crisis, such as 9/11. The authors note, "In the rubble of Ground Zero, people did not want a leader who could organize cross-functional teams; they longed for a leader for the ages, a sage and saviour to lead them out of hell" (Antonakis, Cianciolo, and Sternberg 332). This, more than any other statement, graphically indicates how leadership roles can rapidly change, and how this book applies to public administration. Public administrators are often the first responder or link in times of great stress or disaster, and they must know how to lead effectively or pay the price. They must not only be able to deal with stressful and even life-threatening situations, they must be able to reassure their constituents and assure them life will return to normal, after a time. That is the true test of a good leader, and the authors recognize that, and many other facets of leadership, in this book.

It is quite clear that the authors know their topic well and have brought together as many resources as possible for the serious leadership student. They present the information in logical fashion and in concise terms, and break each chapter down into sections that are easier for the reader to understand and assess. Each of the authors has a serious background in educational leadership, and their combined skills come together to create a book that is both useful and educational. This is a serious look at leadership, and it might put off some lay readers. However, it is an important tool for anyone who is extremely serious about developing as a leader and an innovator.