Excellent article on leadership: Titles Don't Make Leaders

HBS Working Knowledge: The Leadership Workshop: Titles Don't Make Leaders

Not surprisingly HBS Working Knowledge has a regular column on leadership, and this month Stever Robbins (HBS MBA '91) has written an entertaining and right-on piece on this much-discussed topic.

Robbins draws a welcome distinction between setting direction (a leader's job) and giving direction (micro-managing). He writes, "A leader's job is to ensure the success of the organization -- no matter who reports to whom in any given group." His thoughts on the topic are refreshing, enlightening and to the point. And he also throws in some tidbits on teamwork.

So if you are going to be writing about your leadership skills be it for an MBA (HBS puts enormous emphasis on leadership, but all top b-schools want to see it) law, medical, grad or college personal statement or application essay, read this article. It will give you some good ideas and take you beyond the more hackneyed and clichéd themes that come up again and again in applications.