The Leadership Pipeline

About the Author

Ram Charan is a highly respected business consultant and leadership coach, known for his work with top-tier companies and for his teaching roles at Harvard Business School and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business. BusinessWeek named him one of the top 10 resources for in-house corporate programs in the United States.

Stephen Drotter is a pioneer in succession planning, having been one of the early designers of General Electric Co.'s process. He also held significant human resources leadership roles at INA (now CIGNA) and Chase Manhattan Corp.

James Noel is an executive coach based in New York City with extensive experience in executive education and leadership development, particularly noted for his work at GE's Management Development Center in Crotonville, N.Y.

Main Idea

The core premise of "The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership-Powered Company" is that businesses thrive on intellectual capital as much as on financial capital. This intellectual capital resides at all levels within the organization but requires strong leadership to be fully harnessed. The book provides a comprehensive method for building a continuous stream of leaders by understanding and navigating six critical leadership passages, providing appropriate developmental support at each stage, and ensuring a robust system that maintains a full leadership pipeline now and in the future.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Six Leadership Passages
3. From Managing Self to Managing Others
4. From Managing Others to Managing Managers
5. From Managing Managers to Functional Manager
6. From Functional Manager to Business Manager
7. From Business Manager to Group Manager
8. From Group Manager to Enterprise Manager
9. Diagnostics: Identifying Pipeline Problems and Possibilities
10. Performance Improvement: Clarifying Roles and Creating Performance Standards
11. Succession Planning
12. Identifying Potential Pipeline Failures
13. The Functional Career Passage
14. Coaching
15. Benefits Up and Down the Line

Introduction

In today's business environment, the demand for effective leadership far exceeds the supply. This imbalance is evident through the flourishing of executive search firms and the aggressive recruitment of external talent. Internal training, mentoring, and developmental programs often fall short, making it necessary for organizations to look outside for leaders. "The Leadership Pipeline" offers a solution by presenting an approach that ensures a steady flow of internal leaders who are prepared to meet the evolving demands of leadership roles.

The Six Leadership Passages

The six leadership passages are pivotal transitions that leaders must navigate to grow and develop effectively. These passages represent significant changes in responsibilities, required skills, time management, and work values. Understanding and mastering these transitions is essential for unclogging the leadership pipeline and fostering individual and organizational growth.