Veracious or Productive Leadership

Dr. Knab has pointed out for years that the public companies emphasis on short tem quarterly returns would eventually bite them in the backside, because it does not allow organizations to build term goals.

He coined the term “egocentric leadership” because so much of what we witness is short-sighted management aimed only at quick returns.  These are the folks that suck all the profit out of the business for their own gratification; do not properly invest in their own company; and keep everyone on pins and needles to keep costs down so they can get that new yacht. 

Closely-held companies are often focused on the short term because they are under-capitalized; are often scrambling to hold off the latest attack from a large competitor; or worse yet, and often the most prevalent, holding market share when a new competitor enters who does not know their costs and are stealing market share with low-ball prices and big promises. 

That certainly does not promote leadership that lasts and it does not give the employees anything in which to sink their teeth so that they are inspired and motivated. God knows there are many managers out there who believe that employees should be motivated because, “They are being paid to do a job, and they should just do it and quit the whining.”

The leadership style that is unbelievably still common in the 21st century is “command and control.”  Most of us know, or have read, that this method does not work well, but we do it anyway because that’s all we know how to do.  What is needed is an understanding and implementation of “Veracious or Productive Leadership.” With the advent of the information age and the “knowledge worker,” we have evolved away from maximizing physical output of our workers-- towards engaging the minds of our employees.  Dr. Knab goes beyond this to tell us that in order to excel in the 21st century,  great companies will need to “engage the hearts of their employees through a sense of purpose through the application of Veracious Leadership.  When employees believe that the work they do has a deeper purpose, their results vastly exceed those who use only are performing a task!