What began as a webinar about the 15 key characteristics of leadership became an interactive experience where the lecturer learned from the attendees.
During last Tuesday’s webinar, Mike Useem, the William and Jacalyn Egan Professor of Management and director of Wharton’s Center for Leadership and Change Management, polled attendees about what quality was most often missing from leaders they’ve witnessed and worked with in business or in the community.
Useem thought that the ability to “manage the room” would have scored high. The poll results, however, were “a little bit stunning” for him, he told the audience when reporting them.
The top three missing leadership qualities, according to the webinar attendees, were the abilities to build leadership in others, place common interest first, and manage relations and emotions. About 11.6 percent of the webinar poll respondents—66 out of 191—gave that first answer.
“This is very informative,” Useem said of his interaction with his audience. Another example of the give and take of Wharton’s Lifelong Learning programs occurred during a poll asking which leadership learning methods had been most vital in the attendees’ own careers. The top two responses were assignments that stretched their “comfort zone” and forced them to learn on the job (22.83 percent of responses), and experiential learning (with 21.59 percent of responses). Again, Useem said he was making of note of this for future teaching reference.
The webinar’s main subject was Useem’s newest book, called The Leader’s Checklist, for which the professor and noted leadership expert recently released an updated version that takes into account feedback from business managers about the first edition.
To experience the uniquely collaborative nature of Wharton’s Lifelong Learning Initiative yourself—for the first time or again—be sure to view the upcoming lineup for the Wharton Webinar Series.
The next webinar, titled “Understanding Consumer Perceptions: A Critical Issue for Marketers,” will be led by Barbara Kahn, Wharton’s Patty and Jay H. Baker Professor, Professor of Marketing and director of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center. It will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 1, from noon to 1 p.m. EST.
On Tuesday, Dec. 6, from noon to 1 p.m. EST, Joseph Gyourko, Martin Bucksbaum Professor of Real Estate and chairperson of Wharton’s Real Estate Department, will lead a webinar titled “The Economy and Real Estate: Implications for the Housing Market.”
To experience the uniquely collaborative nature of Wharton’s Lifelong Learning Initiative yourself—for the first time or again—access the recording of Useem’s webinar here, or view the upcoming lineup for the Wharton Webinar Series.
