Book Brief: The Systems Leader
In “The Systems Leader,” Robert Siegel explains why leadership in the modern world is so hard. He says it’s because, too often, we are expected to simultaneously solve for two contradictory goals. We are expected to deliver short term results and position the company for long term survival and success. We are expected to be a compassionate leader and hold our people accountable. We are expected to create value in our local communities and fully leverage the benefits of the global economy.
Siegel calls these conflicting expectations “cross-pressures” and he calls someone who is excellent at managing through them a “systems leader.” The name is borrowed from the concept of “systems thinking” which emphasizes the need to look holistically at a complex situation rather than just focusing on the individual parts. A systems leader isn’t one who has simply mastered the various disciplines required in leadership (finance, marketing, operations, etc.) but one who orchestrates the interplay of those disciplines to address the broader challenges.
He specifically calls out five distinct types of cross-pressures that today’s leaders regularly encounter:
- Priorities: Execution and Innovation
- People: Strength and Empathy
- Sphere of Influence: Internal and External
- Geography: Local and Global
- Purpose: Ambition and Statesmanship
If you are a business leader experiencing any of these cross-pressures, I strongly recommend “The Systems Leader.” You will likely take away at least a couple of new ideas for how to deal with these challenges. Learning and applying them can make you a better leader.
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