1. Is There a Crisis of Leadership? & Studying Leadership

3. Outline Class Discussion: Is There a Crisis of Leadership? Cronin’s Top Ten List –Considering Cronin’s criticisms of leadership studies Assignment #1

4. Discussion Questions 1) What do each of these authors say about the existence of a crisis of leadership? 2) To the extent such a crisis is indicated, what is the proposed solution of each? 3) Do you agree?

5. Gardner and Burns 1) What do each of these authors say about the existence of a crisis of leadership? –Both perceive a crisis in leadership 2) To the extent such a crisis is indicated, what is the proposed solution of each? –Both suggest a similar solution: an enhanced understanding of leadership

6. Couto and Greenleaf 1) What do each of these authors say about the existence of a crisis of leadership? –At one level they disagree Couto indicates there isn’t a crisis Greenleaf agrees to the presence of a crisis –Both authors have similar perspective on national leadership 2) To the extent such a crisis is indicated, what is the proposed solution of each? –Both authors look to a revitalized conception of leadership that extends to all levels

7. One final question… What are the implications of these readings for our approach to leadership in this course?

8. Studying Leadership

10. Cronin’s Top Ten 1) Leadership cannot be taught 2) The study of leadership is elitist 3) Leadership training is likely to be more concerned about means than ends 4) Leadership is vocational; it is not a proper academic subject 5) Leadership training might produce ruthless, manipulative leaders without values. 6) The notion of leadership is too vague 7) The study of leadership cuts against disciplinary specialization. 8) A liberal arts education is itself a leadership education 9) There is no corpus of knowledge to master in leadership studies 10) Leadership is creativity and it can’t be learned

11. Interim Summary We have started thinking about leadership Assessed the current status of leadership in our society and how it might be improved Examined strengths and weaknesses of studying leadership ….next week we’ll develop a definition…

12. Assignment Individual writing assignment # 1: –Complete the following for the next class: “Leadership is..”