An ILA Leadership Perspectives Webinar

Leadership Matters

Presenters: Tom Cronin and Michael Genovese

Date: 10 October 2012

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Exceptional leaders can guide us through bursts of energy and activity that fundamentally alter the status quo. But other leaders guide us quietly, and still others lead as followers—or as students, citizens, and foot soldiers from every walk of life. Most leadership books emphasize specific rules of the road or characteristics and signposts; in contrast, Leadership Matters portrays leadership as more nuanced and filled with paradox–a realm in which rules only occasionally apply and “how to do it” prescriptions obscure more than they enlighten. Leadership Matters offers a different view of leadership—one that builds community, motivates self as well as others, and one that is creatively adaptive and synthesizing.

Leaders are people with strong egos who are constantly learning and teaching. It is the leadership of teams, groups, and ideas that more often count than that from charismatic figureheads. Leadership is often a bottom-up rather than top-down phenomenon. Both context and agency matter.

Outcome of Attending

  • Learn to read contexts.
  • Anticipate challenges and disruptions.
  • Employ smart power.
  • Unleash the power of paradox.

Speaker Information

Thomas E. Cronin is the McHugh Professor of American Institutions and Leadership at Colorado College. He is president emeritus of Whitman College (1993-2005) and a former acting president of Colorado College (1991). He earned a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University, and is author, coauthor, or editor of a dozen books on politics and government. Cronin is a past president of both the Western Political Science Association and the Presidency Research Group and was honored by the American Political Science Association with the Charles E. Merriam Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the art of government.
Michael A. Genovese is Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies and holds the Loyola Chair of Leadership as Professor of Political Science at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He received his PhD in political science from the University of Southern California and has authored over 30 books and edits a series on the presidency. Genovese has won numerous awards for outstanding teaching and scholarship.

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