B y K evin C ashman

IN REVIEW

On Becoming that “the process of becoming a leader is similar, if

a Warren
not identical, to becoming a fully integrated human
being.” To be effective and transformative, we must
be whole and authentic. This lesson has been the

Bennis Leader basis of our “grow the whole person to grow the
whole leader” principle.
Bennis was the pioneer who linked self-aware-
ness, the most important tool for authenticity, to
leadership effectiveness. Since this assertion years
ago, abundant scientific research has emerged to
validate what we have seen in the trenches. In fact,
evidence, such as the Korn Ferry research by Dana
Landis and David Zes connecting CEO and senior
leader self-awareness to organizational financial
success, continues to grow and forge new break-
throughs. Our work has shown that a 720-degree
infinity loop of inside-out and outside-in awareness
is the core meta-competency that distinguishes
leader, team and organizational success. As Bennis
said, “The model of progress is not linear; success is
completing the full circle of yourself.”
To be whole, integrated and authentic requires a
high level of self-awareness, and that means taking
a hard look at your values. Bennis was a leading pro-
ponent of values-based leadership — the conscious
comprehension and embodiment
of values that determine a leader’s
capacity to connect to vision,
mission and strategy. One of my
favorite quotes from Bennis is:
“Leaders remind people what is
important.” Given the volatility,
uncertainty, complexity and am-
biguity — “V.U.C.A.” — all around
us, we need leaders to continually
remind us what is important and
why. When performance is the

I
n our work with leaders, purpose, the values of the leader
no one has had a more profound influ- are largely unexpressed; however,
ence than Warren Bennis. The breadth when the purpose drives perfor-
and depth of his legacy are too vast to mance, the values of the leader
represent here, but his core teachings are are fully expressed.
clear and foundational. Bennis lived a fully generative
With his vision of what might be life. Through his writing, teaching
possible by building human potential through an and thought leadership he lived his values and persisted
integrated approach to leader development, he broke in informing leaders of these core teachings. He
new ground. At a time when many lived divided equipped us to create a more purpose-driven, value-
lives, thinking that they had to create a “profes- creating world through whole-person leadership. I
sional” persona for the office and boardroom at the hope that our generation and the next are worthy
expense of being their true selves, Bennis posited recipients of his wisdom. 

68 B R I E F I N G S