Leadership BS

Pfeffer teaches these lessons:

1. “Modesty” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

The most valuable skill great leaders possess, Pfeffer posits, is a genius for creating their “own version of reality.” Pfeffer’s avatar of this genius is Steve Jobs. His leadership brilliance manifested in his ability to convince talented, sought-after employees that working at Apple was a higher calling and would be the pinnacle of their careers. Pfeffer dispassionately dissects how narcissism helps leaders attain their goals. As proof, he cites other famous narcissists: Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Disney head Michael Eisner and media mogul David Geffen. Among their other qualities, these leaders share an unshakable belief in their own “special or unique status.” Today’s business students, studies say, are the most narcissistic in history. This trait, Pfeffer believes, will only help their careers.