Monthly Archives: May 2012

The Leadership Pipeline, by Ram Charan, Steve Drotter, and Jim Noel (Second Edition, Jossey-Bass, 2011), gives readers an in-depth look at the status of leadership development today – and what it takes to select and develop world-class leaders in the current economic and business climate. The Leadership Pipeline is an invaluable handbook for hiring, selection, and development at the executive level. It starts off by helping us understand how globalization, the new economy, and evolved organizational perspectives have changed the way we do business – and what is now necessary for successful leadership:

• Founders and CEOs must shift their priorities as the company grows.
• More leaders are needed to support larger, more dynamic systems – and they need to be grown internally.
• New horizontal leadership skills are necessary.
• Old economy companies are competing for new economy talent.

According to the authors, successful leaders must make six specific transitions to ensure that they take their place with world-class leaders. This nuanced viewpoint sets leadership development within a timeline of ‘passages.’ They encourage the reader to make these turns themselves, and to use them as a structure for developing the next generation of leadership. This progression is at the core of this in-depth look at high-level professional development:

1. From Managing Oneself to Managing Others
2. From Managing Others to Managing Managers
3. From Managing Managers to Functional Manager
4. From Functional Manager to Business Manager
5. From Business Manager to Group Manager
6. From Group Manager to Enterprise Manager

While the authors outline various behavior, priority and values changes that occur at each passage, the last one is the ‘holy grail’ of personal development and development of others, and requires an intentional shift in values in order to be successful. What is that shift? You will find out when you pick up this useful resource!

Do you struggle with how to select and train capable first-line managers? Have you experienced the let down of moving from business manager to group manager? Have you ever thought you had selected the right person but it became apparent that the decision was a mistake? All of these experiences are addressed in detail with logical, thoughtful explanations and case studies.

The Leadership Pipeline is a comprehensive leadership development book for the experienced professional.