The Exec-Ed Zone

In similar vein to the post below, I have come across a number of articles recently that kick-off with discussing the difference between Leaders and Managers. While I will not get into the detail here, you can read the articles on IEDP.info for that, it did strike me that there is a perfect example of the difference between Leaders and Managers just unveiled in Brussels last week.

The Treaty of Lisbon was the controversial latest new set of rules and structures drawn up to allow an expanded European Union of 27 members to operate effectively. One of its most important elements is the replacement of the "rotating president" (where the head of each member state government is President for six months and that country sets the agenda for that period - with a Vice-Presidential role for the six months before and after aswell) with a permanent Persident of the Council of Ministers. This permanent President would be supported by a "High Representative" - essentially an EU Foreign Minister with a staff of 6000+ across the EU missions around the world.

The original proposal was that the occupants of these two roles would be very high-profile. "Able to stop the traffic in Moscow or Beijing" as the UK Foreign Secretary declared. They would very much be "Leaders" - with Tony Blair the highest profile of the candidates. However, when "push came to shove" the headds of government's decided that they did not want to be usurped by a high-profile personality but rather chose two able administrators who no-one outside the EU political village had heard of, the newish Prime Minister of Belgium, Herman von Rompuy, and the UK's current EU Commissioner, Baroness (Cathy) Ashton.

The world knows little of these two currently, we will learn more, but we are told by the press that they are able administrators - but not charismatic leaders. That is Managers not Leaders.

Let's watch and see whether they will transmogrify into Leaders now the spotlight is on them.

Anyone else have thoughts on this? Please comment on the new IEDP.info LinkedIn discussion group.