The Art of Leadership

Dale Carnegie, whose self help empire is built on the premise that dealing with people is man's most difficult challenge, once said "Even in such technical lines as science and engineering, only about 15 percent of a person's financial and career success is due to technical knowledge -- the other 85% is due to skill in human engineering and the ability to lead people."
Whether you are on a scientific or management track in your company, developing the skills to lead people should be a part of any career plan. Many scientists and engineers seem to think that it is the professional manager, that person dealing with the administrative details of people and projects, who must develop skills in leadership. Too often we see examples of technical people who are brilliant in their own respective fields, yet who have failed their organizations due to poor leadership ability. Here are some examples of leadership styles that are commonly seen in the world of industrial R & D.…