The Power of Mandate

About the Author

Scott Stawski is the Global Chief Revenue Officer for Applications and Business Process Services at DXC Technology. A trusted advisor for CEOs, CFOs, and CIOs in the Americas, Scott is a recognized expert in digital, analytics, and data management, technology strategy, outsourcing, and next-generation application transformation to the cloud. Jimmy Brown, Ph.D., is a senior consulting executive with more than 20 years of experience delivering practical strategies for business performance improvement. His current efforts focus on leadership development, strategic planning, and change management.

Main Idea

"The Power of Mandate" by Scott Stawski and Jimmy Brown, Ph.D., argues that the most radically successful companies are led by leaders who use mandate-driven leadership to drive innovation and change. This leadership style contrasts sharply with consensus-driven leadership, which the authors believe often leads to mediocrity and failure. Mandate-driven leaders are characterized by their ability to implement a vision through creative disruption and sheer willpower, often defying groupthink to achieve extraordinary results.

Table of Contents

• Introduction: The Need for Mandate-Driven Leadership
• The Downside of Consensus Leadership
• The Characteristics of Mandate-Driven Leaders
• Creating a Mandate-Driven Culture
• Case Studies of Successful Mandate-Driven Leaders
• Implementing Mandate-Driven Leadership in Your Organization
• Conclusion: The Future of Leadership in the Age of Disruption

Introduction: The Need for Mandate-Driven Leadership

In today's fast-paced digital economy, technological innovation is causing significant disruptions. Traditional consensus-driven leadership methods, which rely on group agreement and democratic processes, often fail to respond quickly and effectively to these changes. Instead, mandate-driven leadership, which emphasizes decisive, visionary action, is essential for navigating and capitalizing on these disruptions.

The Downside of Consensus Leadership

Consensus leadership has deep historical roots, often seen in democratic societies and cooperative movements. However, in the modern business world, it can be counterproductive. The emphasis on unanimous agreement can lead to diluted ideas, slow decision-making, and a tendency to prioritize likeability over innovation. The failure of companies like Hewlett Packard during times of digital disruption exemplifies the pitfalls of a consensus-driven approach.

"Consensus decision making and the principles that comprise consensus management can be traced back centuries. However, it is often counterproductive and detrimental to the decision-making process if misapplied, which it often is." - Scott Stawski

The Characteristics of Mandate-Driven Leaders

Mandate-driven leaders are defined by three main characteristics: a well-communicated vision of the future, a drive to the outcome instead of the process, and an unrelenting focus and determination to achieve the end state. These leaders do not accept "no" for an answer and hold their teams accountable to the vision they set.

For example, Steve Jobs is a prototype of a mandate-driven leader. His vision for Apple was revolutionary, and he was known for his demanding and sometimes tyrannical leadership style. However, his relentless pursuit of his vision led to groundbreaking innovations and significant industry disruption.

"Steve Jobs will go down in history as one of the most challenging leaders to work with of all time. However, his adoption of a Mandate Driven Leadership model was integral to his success." - Scott Stawski

Creating a Mandate-Driven Culture

Mandate-driven leaders must foster a culture that supports their vision and resists groupthink. This involves creating an environment where innovation is encouraged, outcomes are prioritized over processes, and team members are held accountable. Leaders like Jeff Bezos and Jack Welch have successfully created such cultures within their organizations, driving significant change and achieving remarkable success.