Sydney Finkelstein's Why Smart Executives Fail

Leadership is often seen as a position of power sought by many and possessed by few. In reality, a majority of leadership positions do not involve one almighty person dictating the actions of others; rather, these positions involve someone modeling the way and guiding their peers through a process. By guiding rather than dictating, a leader expands the knowledge of everyone in a group, and empowers followers to take pride in the work they do. True leadership is the process in which one grows themselves and those around them by acting in a way that maximizes the productivity of a team, and meets the needs of everyone working towards a common goal. True leaders see an opportunity for change and turn that opportunity into action. Contradictory to popular belief, leaders do not have to be the smartest people in the room. Sydney Finkelstein (2015), author of Why Smart Executives Fail, argues that the best leaders are ones who do not plan to lead, but seize a presented opportunity. By leading spontaneously, one avoids motivation fueled by self-gain and can focus their efforts on success. Only leaders who are not concerned with self-fulfillment are able to lead passionately and empower others, because they do not care who gets credit for accomplishments when a goal is reached.
Personally …show more content…
My philosophy is a tool that gives me a place to start building my leadership, and use experiences to strengthen my definition of what it means to lead. My personal philosophy of leadership is not a means to an end; rather, it is a fluid definition that changes along with the experiences I have and knowledge I absorb. By integrating this personal philosophy of leadership into my daily life, I will become a better leader and work towards achieving my goal of attending Georgetown University Law School and being elected to the United States Senate to protect the future of our