Introduction
Rob Reuteman’s aim in writing this article is to educate others on the tips of good leadership. He offers advice based on personal experience and years of practice, and examples from other people in the business. Reuteman is trying to prove to the reader that good leadership is crucial for a company’s success, and lousy leadership can have grave repercussions. With the top 500 corporations having generated $13.8 trillion in revenue (Fortune, 2021), it is important to stay competitive. The success and failure stories that Reuteman includes increase the plausibility of his arguments.
Summary of the Main Points
Know Yourself
The main idea of this point is the importance of self-awareness. It is impossible to find a solution if the individual is not aware of the problem in the first place (Reuteman, 2014). Furthermore, awareness of the consequences of one’s actions is essential in making meaningful and lasting changes that lead to better leadership (Reuteman, 2014). The leader needs to understand how he operates before being able to address managerial issues.
Get Rid of Poor Managers
It is crucial to keep in mind the common goal. When some of the managers in charge are not doing enough to keep the company moving forward, they should be replaced (Reuteman, 2014). With a smooth-sailing and cooperative executive and managerial team, the company will achieve much better results. A business is not an individual sport but a team sport; hence it is vital to select managers that work well together.
Practice Leadership Skills Daily
Ongoing self-education and practice are both essential to the development of leadership skills (Reuteman, 2014). Without practice, the theoretical knowledge, no matter how extensive, will be lost eventually. Therefore, the main focus should be on learning how to use the skills and understanding when to use them, which are things that come from practice. Furthermore, consistency is vital, and a continuous daily routine is beneficial to developing leadership skills.
Critique of the Article
Author’s Support of the Points
Reuteman uses statistics and anecdotes to support his arguments and the main points listed above in particular. For example, he supports his claim that good leadership is essential by providing a solid figure – a net annual loss of $1.2 million due to poor leadership (Reuteman, 2014). This proves his point that poor managers need to be fired or relocated. Furthermore, he praises female managers for being more collaborative (Reuteman, 2014). He also gives examples of self-awareness in the company – such as being environmentally conscious and not polluting (Reuteman, 2014). There are more general examples than examples of the specific leadership improvement points, but the essay is still effective.
Author’s Qualifications
Rob Reuteman is a business journalism teacher at Colorado State University and a lifetime editor and columnist at Rocky Mountain View (Entrepreneur).
Was the Author Successful
Reuteman is successful in relating the leadership strategies, as his arguments are convincing and reasonable. The reader is engaged in the stories and is presented with solid evidence to support the author’s point of view. Therefore, the reader ends up either agreeing with Reuteman or at least respecting his opinion. This is, therefore, a successful text, as it achieves the level of connection with the reader that is required.
What Did the Author Mean
To reiterate, the author’s main objective is to relate the importance of good leadership and give examples of what can be done to improve it. Summarizing the three main points, the author conveys the strategies that should be followed for successful leadership, including self-awareness, cooperation and teamwork, and daily practice. Rob Reuteman highlights how central these concepts are to outstanding leadership and, hence, a company’s success, especially when practiced altogether and consistently.
References
Entrepreneur. (n.d.). About Rob Reuteman.
Fortune. (2021). Fortune 500.
Reuteman, R. (2014). Value Lessons: Just How Much Is Good Leadership Worth? Entrepreneur.