Warren G Bennis (1925-2014), along with Chris Argyris, pioneered organizational development. His primary contributions to business and society revolved around leadership. Warren G Bennis wrote over 27 books, most consider the notable book to be On Becoming a Leader.
The following videos provides insight into the life and thoughts of Warren G Bennis.
Warren G Bennis YouTube video of keynote speech at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massuchusetts:
Warren G Bennis YouTube video of speech and interview USC Annenberg’s Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP) and the USC Marshall School of Business, San Diego, California:
Warren G. Bennis YouTube video at October 27, 2010 Antioch University, Los Angeles, California:
Reunion 2010: Warren G Bennis and Tony Hsieh YouTube video, “Leadership For the 21st Century”:
Warren G Bennis YouTube video on moral leadership:
Warren G. Bennis Quotes:
Leaders encourage reflective backtalk. Norbert Wiener told me, “I never know what I say until I hear the response.” Leaders know the importance of having someone in their lives who will unfailingly and fearlessly tell them the truth. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
Too many companies believe people are interchangeable. Truly gifted people never are. They have unique talents. Such people cannot be forced into roles they are not suited for, nor should they be. Effective leaders allow great people to do the work they were born to do. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born – that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
Leaders must encourage their organizations to dance to forms of music yet to be heard. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
Failing organizations are usually over-managed and under-led. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
No leader sets out to be a leader. People set out to live their lives, expressing themselves fully. When that expression is of value, they become leaders. So the point is not to become a leader. The point is to become yourself, to use yourself completely – all your skills, gifts and energies – in order to make your vision manifest. You must withhold nothing. You, must, in sum, become the person you started out to be, and to enjoy the process of becoming. – Warren G Bennis Quotes
Warren G Bennis Leadership Books:
1964 The Temporary Society with Philip Slater ISBN-13: 978-0787943318
1966 Beyond Bureaucracy: Essays on the Development and Evolution of Human Organization ISBN-13: 978-1555425227
1974 The Leaning Ivory Tower ISBN-13: 978-0875891576
1976 The Unconscious Conspiracy Continues : Why Leaders Can’t Lead ISBN-13: 978-0814454060
1985 The Planning of Change ISBN-13: 978-0030636820
1985 Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge ISBN-13: 978-0060152468
1989 On Becoming a Leader ISBN-13: 978-0465014088
1993 The Unreality Industry: The Deliberate Manufacturing of Falsehood and What It Is Doing to Our Lives with Ian I Mitroff ISBN-13: 978-1559720144
1994 An Invented Life: Reflections On Leadership And Change ISBN-13: 978-0201632125
1996 Beyond Leadership: Balancing Economics, Ethics and Ecology ISBN-13: 978-1557869609
1998 Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration with Patricia Ward Biederman ISBN-13: 978-0201570519
1998 Managing People Is Like Herding Cats: Warren Bennis on Leadership ISBN-13: 978-0963491756
2000 Co-Leaders: The Power of Great Partnerships with David A. Heenan ISBN-13: 978-0471316350
2000 Managing the Dream: Reflections on Leadership and Change ISBN-13: 978-0471316350
2002 Geeks & Geezers : How Era, Values, and Defining Moments Shape Leaders ISBN-13: 978-1578515820
2003 Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge ISBN-13: 978-0060152468
2005 Reinventing Leadership: Strategies to Empower the Organization ISBN-13: 978-0688126704
2007 Judgment: How Great Leaders Make Winning Calls with Noel Tichy ISBN-13: 978-1591842934
2008 Transparency: How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor with Daniel Goleman and James O’Toole ISBN-13: 978-0470278765
2010 Still Surprised: A Memoir of a Life in Leadership with Patricia Ward Biederman ISBN-13: 978-0470432389