While a recent study of how executives in 12 industry leaders rate their people in 4 managerial hierarchies clearly underscored that the transition from manager to leader in these high performance companies has begun, a classic example is Hewlett-Packard Company. This style institutionalizes decentralization, openness, management by walking around, and management by objectives. These basics have been forgotten. Started 50 years ago, this approach still makes good business sense. Some companies have totally revamped their Human Resource system for evaluating, developing, and selecting future executives and managers.
All evidence underscores a common theme.
Consider perspectives presented many years apart by three people in totally different vocations. As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. Teddy Roosevelt prophetically said in the early 1900's, The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it. Having turned Allied Signal into a highly formidable competitor in its three major businesses, Chairman Larry Bossidy has advice of significant credibility.