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Covert LeadershipKnowledge Center |
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What is Covert Leadership? Meaning.Covert Leadership is a term invented by Henry Mintzberg ('98) to describe how modern leaders may lead without seeming to. They don't seek absolute control over others; rather, through many unobtrusive actions, they inspire others to perform and use their talents. Mintzberg compares leaders with a symphony orchestra conductor. When a covert leader or top manager guides (part of) an organization, just like a symphony orchestra conductor, he leads without seeming to, without his people being fully aware of all that he is doing. In today's world of professionals, a leader is not completely powerless--but neither does he have absolute control over others. Covert leadership means managing with a sense of nuances, constraints, and limitations. Like musicians, professionals don't need to be empowered--they're already secure in what they know and can do--but they do need to be infused with energy for the tasks at hand. Because knowledge work has grown in importance, the way an orchestra conductor operates can serve as a good model for top managers in a wide range of businesses. In such businesses, the role of the covert leader is: to act quietly and unobtrusively in order to exact not obedience but inspired performance.
Compare with: Charismatic Leadership | Seven Surprises for New CEOs (Porter) | Active Listening | Storytelling | Chain of Command | Chairman of the Board | Chief Executive Officer | Management by Exception | Span of Control | Transformational Leadership | Seven Habits (Covey) | Level 5 Leadership (Collins) | EPIC ADVISERS | Core Group Theory | Strategic Stakeholder Management | SMART | Path-Goal | Leadership Continuum | Situational Leadership | Theory X Theory Y | 4 Dimensions of Relational Work | Leadership Styles (Goleman) | Strategic Intent | Results-Based Leadership | Transactional Leadership |
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