The document presents a summary of Niels Pflaeging's insights on leadership, emphasizing the need for leaders to find models that suit their specific contexts rather than searching for a single ultimate model. It discusses the use of mind mapping to clarify leadership concepts and encourages leaders to draw from personal experiences and established theories. Key qualities of effective leaders are outlined, highlighting the importance of authenticity, passion, and the willingness to take risks.

1. LEADERSHIP :
CUTTING THROUGH THE CLUTTER
May 2014 robert.dequelen@astrolab-consulting.com
« Most book, articles and concepts
about leadership are ridiculous ».
Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”,
Betacodex.org

2. disclaimer :
This presentation does not pretend to
add a new concept about leadership
My goal in making this presentation was merely to « summarize
the summary » made by Niels Pflaeging, and to show how mind
mapping can help put some order among the clutter.

3. In matters of Leadership, stop
looking for “the” ultimate model
– you need to find the one that is
the most suitable for YOU, in a
given situation.

4. Mind mapping can help clarify the clutter
What kind of leadership for what context?
Too many sources?
How about your personal
experience, point of view?
Remote, virtual teams?
Find your own
Too much information about Leadership? Start from your own needs …
Sort them out
with mind
mapping

5. Where to start? Challenges? Sources?
Using mind mapping to explore the various dimensions of leadership

6. Context : norms and cultural dimensions
Leadership in a cross-cultural
environment : remote, virutal
teams?
Is there a truly global model
of Leadership ?
Relationship to time,
rules, uncertainty,
hierarchy….

7. Where to start? Theory or practice?
http://www.betacodex.org/node/3537
Inspiring
examples

8. Finding the
Leadership concept candy store :
a great slideshare from Nils Pflaeging
(Betacodex), who summarized it all for us

9. Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org
Nils Pflaeging summarized the history of leadership thinking

10. Reviewing the main thinkers of Leadership and their key concepts
Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org

11. Classics, innovators, mavericks …
Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org

12. Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org
And a few portraits of CEOs

13. Historic examples, models, mentors
Identify your
own heroes
and mentors
And remember models are like
scaffoldings : you delete them once you
have finished building your house.

14. Historic examples, models, mentors
Identify your
own heroes and
mentors
And make your own model

15. FEELING OVERWHELMED
ALREADY?
Time to identify your key resources

16. Some of of my favorites quotes
• « No curricular reforms will work until the scientific model is
replaced by a more appropriate model rooted in the special
requirements of a profession »
• Warren Bennis, acadmic rebel
• (see also Henry Mintzberg and Sumantra Ghoshal)
• « Make money and have fun »
• Bill and Vieve Gore
• « The business of business is people »
• Herb Kelleher, CEO, SouthWest Airlines
Quoted by Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org

17. Some more quotes
• «Management is above all a practice in which art,
science and craft meet”
• Henry Mintzberg
• « It is not a question of strategy that gets us into
trouble, it is a question of emotions »
John P.Kotter

18. You can also craft your own definition
• “I believe:
• There’s too much noise in business today. There are too many things vying
for our attention. Senior leaders must be diligent about cutting out the
noise to get their organizations focused on what really matters.
• Playing it safe is dangerous. You never maintain the status quo by playing it
safe. You get worse. You lose your edge. You lose your confidence. You
don’t feel alive. You can’t win.
• People want to do great things. They want to build great things. They want
to be involved with other great people. Great leaders create the conditions
for other people’s greatness to come out.”
Doug Sundheim
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/05/the-trouble-with-leadership-theories/

19. So, I did craft mine …
• I believe:
• People are ready to follow purposeful leaders : they know the direction and
why it is important to get there, even if the path is uncertain; they are
centered and know the priorities
• Authentic leaders are people who are not afraid to confront their own
limitations. They feel the fear, and do it anyway
• Leadership is not just a matter of born charisma, but something you can
develop over time as you face and overcome challenges
• Leaders are driven – they are passionate about what they want to achieve,
what they believe in
• Leaders genuinely care for their team’s progress , individually and
collectively
• Leaders are not afraid to take (calculated) risks : they anticipate and have a
plan B
Robert de Quelen, May 2014

20. Find your own style
Focused
Transformative
Participative
Results-oriented
Post-heroïc

21. Special thanks
• Niels Pflaeging, Betacodex
• Silke Hermann
• Valerya Carvalho
• Alain Cayrol
• Nicole de Chancey
• Renaud Redien-Collot
• Robert Dilts
• David Cooperrider