Can you be a Jekyll and Hyde leader?

Warren Bennis asks, “Can a leader both act and be real?”

Bill George, a professor at the Harvard Business School, in his book True North, contends that a journey to leadership cannot be made without “framing your life story, discerning your passions, finding your leadership purpose,” and aligning it with that of your organization. In short, he is saying that you cannot fake leadership.

I agree with George. Watch the video to see why.

The more systemic issue is about how we hire and promote leaders in healthcare. We always look at past accomplishments and metrics that have been moved in previous jobs. But what about how leaders lead their lives? Should that be considered? And how do you measure that?

Tell me what you think.

Are some able to lead without being authentic to their organizations or to themselves?

Anthony Cirillo, FACHE, ABC, is a marketing consultant, professional speaker, aging and senior health expert, and the owner of Fast Forward Consulting. Visit his personal blog at www.anthonyssong.blogspot.com.

Anthony Cirillo

Anthony Cirillo, FACHE, ABC, is president of The Aging Experience. He’s a passionate advocate for family caregivers and older adults, helping them lead a quality life through a platform of educated aging – physically, emotionally and financially. Cirillo is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives with a Masters from the University of Pennsylvania, His clients have ranged from the Cleveland Clinic, Unisys, and King Faisal Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Carolinas Health Care, Novant Health, Wall Street startups and many more. Anthony serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for PPS Alert for Long-Term Care and is an editorial board member for the Journal of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry.