Multiple Leadership Styles for Multiple Organizational Needs

  Recently, Hewlett Packard announced that Meg Whitman, former eBay CEO, takes the helm at HP's top spot. I've read multiple articles in (actual) newspapers and seen multiple posts online that note,

"Whitman doesn't have much at all in the way of hardware or enterprise expertise that HP needs right now beyond being on HP's board of directors."

Stop to think for a moment, though. I submit that this is exactly why she may be the right person for HP. We will not know her effectiveness at the helm until time and history reveal results. For this post I just examine the statement itself and pose to you the question, "Is this a bad thing?"

Perhaps what HP needs is someone who focuses on users and people rather than technology and enterprise. Perhaps the person at the top of an organization should use her (or his) strengths to move the organization in an appropriate direction, and surround herself with people who focus on the other areas of business. Perhaps the user-focus is what the company needs to pull it out of its doldrums and instill excitement about its offerings and services.

This is not to say that HP is or isn't a company that stands to succeed moving forward. This is simply to question the narrow viewpoint that a leader must be a certain type of leader in order to move an organization, its people, and its customers. Think about your organization the next time you are quick to pass judgment on whether a manager or team leader or "C-level" person is the right person for the position. Concern yourself that an entire team is the right team rather than any one individual. It takes a village…not only to raise a good individual but also to lead a good organization.

Just a thought.