We’ve posted a lot on leadership.  In case you missed it, today’s Wall Street Journal has a few items worth reading on the subject. The first is a book review on “Walk the Walk:  The #1 Rule for Real Leaders” by Alan Deutschman. It’s followed by a real gem. A quote from Lou Gerstner the former IBM CEO:

From Louis V. Gerstner’s IBM memoir, “Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?” (2004):

Soon after I’d joined the company, I asked one of my most senior executives to provide me with a detailed analysis of a major money-losing business at IBM. I did this not only because I wanted the insight from the analysis but also to test this highly rated executive. Three days later I asked him how the work was ­progressing. He said, “I’ll check with the team and get back to you.” At the end of the week, I got the same ­response: “I’ll check with the team leader and let you know” (later he did). When this little scene played out a third time, I finally said, “Why don’t you just give me the name of the person doing the work, and from now on I’ll speak directly to him or her.” What I discovered was that senior executives often presided. They ­organized work, then waited to review it when it was done. You were a worker early in your career, but once you climbed to the top, your role was to preside over a process. Well, my kind of executives dig into the ­details, work the problems day to day, and lead by ­example, not title.