The Myth of Leadership: Creating Leaderless Organizations

by Jeffrey S. Nielsen

Overview

Can we really run organizations without leaders? Yes, says organizational consultant Jeffery Nielson in this provocative book. According to Nielsen, it's time to stop structuring businesses as "rank-based" organizations run by a privileged elite who are so isolated from the front lines that they are downright counterproductive. Debunking the leadership myth, Nielsen calls for an end to leader-based corporate hierarchies, which foster secrecy, encourage miscommunication, and steal the joy and dignity from work. His new paradigm is the "peer-based" organization. No matter how you feel about Nielsen's theory of leaderless organizations, you are sure to find this book thought provoking. It will challenge your assumptions about the role of leadership in modern organizations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780891063261
Publisher:	Quercus
Publication date:	05/16/2011
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Jeffrey S. Nielsen is an internationally recognized consultant whose firm, Intellectual Capital Development, helps individuals act strategically and think like business owners. Previously, he worked with the Franklin Covey Company and Right Management Consultants, an international outplacement and consulting firm.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
	Acknowledgments	xiii
	About the Author	xv
Part 1	The Context of Leadership
1	Rank-Based vs. Peer-Based Thinking in Organizations	3
2	The Myth of Leadership	17
3	Why Have Leaders?	39
Part 2	The Evolution of Organizational Practices
4	"Strange Attractors" and Organizational Practices	59
5	"Big Chief" and Hierarchical Rank-Based Organizations	79
Part 3	Creating and Managing Peer-Based Organizations
6	Creating Peer-Based Organizations	99
7	The Strategy of Peer-Based Organizations	121
8	Open and Leaderless Peer-Based Organizations	147
	Concluding Thoughts	167
	References	175
	Index	179

Editorial Reviews

What you'll learn: Peer-based thinking and decision-making organizations are more effective than rank-based, bureaucratic firms.—Chicago Tribune

A book that challenges my thinking keeps me reading. Therefore, I recommend this book. Provides practitioners with a useful model.—Training Media Review

A revolutionary work. Nielsen outlines an escape from the ego-nomics of today-s organizations. Without change, the cost of feeding these beasts will devour us. Nielsen tells us how to avoid being their next meal.—Robert G. Crawford, Associate Professor, Marriott School, Brigham Young University

Arguing that "rank-based hierarchies" are counterproductive, the author uses real world examples to demonstrate this principle.—Forecast

Jeffrey Nielsen cogently points out that the emperor-leader has threadbare clothes, and at the same time he empowers the rest of the workforce with the broadcloth of effective, peer-based teamwork. Buy one copy for yourself, another for your boss, and go to work!

Nielsen-s insights made all the difference for us. Dissolving rank-based leadership and sharing previously closely held information unleashed and empowered everyone in our organization. The company was reinvented and launched is a new and prosperous direction.

Offers guidance as to how companies can gradually introduce peer-based concepts.—CIO Magazine

The book outlines how rank-based organizations develop, and identifies three management vehicles you need to start a peer-based organization.—HR Magazine

Though readers ask how this idea would work in reality, there is no doubt...not a bad place to start.—Training Magazine

Very timely and powerful. This is serious brain food for business and one of the best books of the year!—The CEO Refresher

What is worth paying attention to here is his belief that organizations invest too much power in senior leadership.—CIO Insight

From the Publisher