The stereotypical view of a CEO—tough-minded, dominant, and hyper-aggressive—may be giving way to a more sensitive image. Nowhere is this shifting standard more apparent than at General Electric. There may be no CEO more revered for his leadership style than former CEO Jack Welch, a “tough guy” in his own words. Yet his handpicked successor, Jeff Immelt, is remarkable for his very different leadership style. Whereas Welch was intense, brash, and directive, Immelt was described by Financial Times as “unshakably polite, self-deprecating and relaxed.” A recent study of CEOs seems to suggest that this trend toward more sensitive CEOs is spreading.
You might think a kinder, gentler approach works only for Fortune 500 CEOs, whose very job security might rely on glowing press coverage. In the United States, though, you don’t get much farther from Wall Street than the Hanford, Washington, nuclear cleanup site, and there is evidence that the “nice” approach to leadership is taking hold there, too. Jerry Long, VP of operations for CH2M HILL’s cleanup of the Hanford site, argues that a central part of his job is “showing them you care.” Consider the meteoric rise of Barack Obama—all the way from state senator to president in just five years. Although some have argued that Obama’s presidential campaign represented an emphasis of style over substance, it may be that after years of acrimonious political wars, people considered the how as important as the what. It seems clear that part of Obama’s incredible rise reflects people’s desire for a kinder, gentler leader.
1. Do you think the kinder, gentler leader image is just a fad?
2. Do you think the kinder, gentler leadership approach works better in some situations than others? It is possible that Welch and Immelt are both effective leaders?
3. Do you think the leadership style of people like Immelt and Obama is a result of nature, nurture, or both? What factors can you think of to support your answer?