Ronald Heifetz

Leadership on the Line

1. IDEA 1

   Leadership is dangerous

   Heifetz and Linsky argue that real leadership is risky, because it asks people to face difficult changes and losses. Leaders who challenge habits and values often face resistance and attack.

2. IDEA 2

   Some problems need adaptation

   The authors distinguish technical problems, which experts can solve, from adaptive challenges, which require people to change values and behaviour. Adaptive challenges are harder. In the authors' view, a leader who treats an adaptive challenge as a technical one may solve the wrong problem.

3. IDEA 3

   Step back to see clearly

   The authors suggest getting on the balcony, stepping back from action to see patterns. This helps leaders understand what is happening. In the authors' view, a leader who is lost in the action may miss the larger picture, so stepping back is helpful.

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