Does Leadership Matter?

So for the last few weeks, I have attended the campus forums for the candidates for the position of Vice President of Student Affairs.  The first candidate, Dr. Frank Shushok is the current Virginia Tech associate vice president of student affairs.  The second, Dr. Patricia Perillo is  associate dean of students at Davidson College.  During two hour open forum each shared their vision for Student Affairs and spent time answering community members’ questions.  Each of the candidates is highly qualified with a number of experiences in higher education and would bring unique leadership style to the vice president position.

This evening as I reflected on both open forums, I am reminded of Burke’s question in this weeks reading, Does Leadership Matter?  Once the pool has been narrowed and the top candidates come to campus, does it really matter which one steps into the position.  Is there any particular quality or skill the university needs as it prepares to start a new chapter under new leadership? Each candidate is passionate about creating a student centered learning environment that will engage and prepare students to enter the workplace.  I thought about what set each candidate apart and how would the search committee prepare to submit their decision about which one should be hired?  Such difficult questions!

These questions are asked and pondered by not only university members but all types of organizations.  For instance, Best Buy is again in search of a CEO in light of Brian Dunn recent resignation?  Some people questioned the leadership of Dunn, who originally started as a sales clerk.  Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities commented:

I hate to be rude, but I think he (Dunn) was doing a terrible job. This is a company that had a sales guy in charge, and I just don't think they are well positioned to deal with the onslaught from the Internet. ¹

Although outsiders may not believed Dunn was the best person to lead; workers “saw him as one of their own.” Mr. Anderson, an employee of 36 years commented, "The reason I wanted Brian as CEO is he was of the culture."   Anderson now believes "There are all kinds of excellent people in the company, but the overwhelming likelihood is that they will have to go outside for leadership now." ²

So is Burke correct?  Does leadership matter?  Does it take a certain type of person to lead an organization?  Do they need to have a Ph.D., or years of industry experience, or can they be the hard working sales clerk that moves up the ranks?  Defining who will make a great leader is difficult to define.  Burke opens up the section by writing, “we know it when we see it and feel it”.   So as Virginia Tech, Best Buy and many other organizations search for their next leader each will need to take the time to assess where they are headed and what characteristics and qualities they need a leader to possess in order to move the organization forward.

^1.  Skariachan, D. (2012,  April 11).  Best Buy CEO resigns during personal conduct probe. Reuters. Retrieved from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/11/us-bestbuy-idUSBRE8390PS20120411

^2. Bustillo, M., Lublin, J.S. & Zimmerman, A. (2012, April 12).  Best Buy Probes CEO Relationship. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304444604577340081967524376.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories