In the winter 2015 issue of Prospect, Anderson asks whether “collaboration” isn’t just another business buzzword. But in fact, the age-old dichotomy of followers and leaders in business may be facing a challenge.
Certainly, all companies, regardless of size, need a CEO with vision spearheading the way for innovation, forward motion and profit maximization. But in today’s climate, as businesses become more global and employees have increasingly high levels of education and expertise, leaders must know how to collaborate.
Whether it’s sitting in on roundtable discussions, deferring to a vice president or delegating projects to teams, successful presidents and CEOs are less about control and more about consensus.
But it’s a finely tuned skill, and those at the top have to tread carefully between relying on others and sticking to their own visions. Just as collaboration is necessary, so is the ability to make difficult decisions and be responsible for their outcomes. That means that for the modern-day CEO, leading — and leading well — is a balancing act.
Read the whole story in Prospect online and learn what entertainment executives, Anderson professors and students, and corporate CEOs have to say about the new collaboration imperative.
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