4 PIONEERS REFLECT ON LEADERSHIP

This article presents highlights from a discussion of the Lessons of L eadership panel at the 1997 Emerging Leader Program hosted by the Glob al Institute for Leadership Development. The panel members were Warren Bennis, well-known guru and a professor at the University of Southern California; Max DePree, Henry Miller chairman emeritus; Bob Galvin, c hairman of Motorola's executive committee; and Bob Haas, chairman of t he board and CEO of Levi Strauss. These industry leaders discussed som e pivotal and lasting lessons that they learned from important people in their lives, including business mentors, friends, and family. Said one panel member, ''My mother was a mentor, my wife was a mentor, and Peter Drucker has been one of my mentors.'' When asked what fundamenta l management truth still applies, despite the many changes, all of the panel members agreed that it's integrity. In fact, they said that tru st and truth were the greatest motivators. They went on to confirm the value of people and the importance of values. ''Technology is wonderf ul,'' said DePree, ''but it's not sufficient.'' These leaders believe that technology enables relationships and skills-and that a leader's r ole is to encourage and enable people. They also point to respecting o thers as a crucial factor in leadership and, ultimately, a successful organization.The panel members recount some very personal experiences that illustrate how they arrived at their own values, such as wanting work to have meaning, not just fix business problems, and wanting a ba lance between their work and personal Lives. For one panel member, a d efining moment was learning how to lead in situations in which he didn 't have any power. Regarding innovation, Haas said, ''Distrust convent ional wisdom.''.