The real invisible hand (leadership)

Article Type: Abstracts From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 20, Issue 4

Caulkin S.Management Today (UK), November 2011, Start page: 40, No. of pages: 3

Looks at the nature of power within organizations, arguing that the subject has been ignored in favour of sanitized descriptions of leadership and governance. Underlines the importance of understanding who has power and how it is used for understanding organizational decision making. Discusses how powerful people operate and the dangers that accompany this – most notably, the flattery and sycophancy that power attracts which results in leaders losing their grasp on reality. Examines the relationship between power and weakness, contending that they are two sides of the same coin. Suggests many of the aspects of business that are currently being criticized are not aberrations but the natural outcome of powerful people and organizations seeking more power. However, also points out that the powerful cannot control everything and that, eventually, they will fall.ISSN: 0025-1925Reference: 41AA565

Keywords: Leadership, Organizational politics, Business strategy