A Systems Approach to Leadership

By Dr. Stephen C. Schoonover

Despite decades of research and a constant search for capturing and nurturing the essences of leadership, consistent, proven approaches to leadership development have proven elusive. The primary reason for varying perspectives and methods is that most definitions and development practices focus on selected aspects of the phenomenon. All to often popular literature and organizations latch onto the latest “reductionistic” fad hoping to create better leaders faster. Why doesn’t this work?