Chapter Thirteen. You Must Know Your People to Lead Them

Drucker knew that knowing his students was a major responsibility of a classroom leader, and he knew that this was an important function for any leader and manager in any environment. Leadership is complex. To lead successfully, you must see every single person you would have follow you as a separate individual. For a start, you can learn the names of those you lead. It doesn’t really matter how large an organization you lead.

Peter was a real leader who led by example. He himself had almost been a dean at Bennington College in Vermont early in his career. Because of this leadership wasn’t theoretical; he knew how to lead from personal experience. Drucker’s demonstrated leadership in the ...

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