Overcoming Leadership Challenges and Embracing Development with Dr. Bruce Avolio

Dr. Bruce Avolio, Distinguished Professor at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business and the Executive Director of the Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking, has dedicated the majority of his career to understanding and advancing the field of leadership. His insights, drawn from years of research and practical experience, offer valuable guidance on the challenges leaders face today, the importance of development, and the critical role of context in effective leadership.

Challenges in Leadership Today 

One of the pressing challenges in leadership, according to Avolio, is attracting and retaining the right people for leadership roles. He notes that because of the complexities and pressures associated with leadership roles, many talented individuals are deterred from pursuing leadership positions across all types of pubic and private organizations. "We have lost some of the attraction to some of our most critical leadership roles in society." This issue is particularly evident in fields like education and politics, where the best candidates often avoid leadership roles due to political and administrative burdens, as well as impact on families.

Avolio explains, "I worked a lot in New York with public education. And it was all because they didn't have enough people that wanted to be principals. The best teacher in the school may never want to be a principal, and certainly not a superintendent, because of the politics."

He also highlights the broader societal impact, stating, "There are a lot of people who don't want to get involved in this at all. A lot of people are opting out." This trend is observed across various sectors, including politics, where many respected individuals intentionally avoid taking on leadership roles.

The Misunderstanding of Traits 

Avolio challenges the belief that leadership is solely about inherent traits. He argues that while traits play a role, leadership is more about development and the dynamic interplay of various factors over time: "I wish I could just wipe the word ‘trait’ out of leadership conversations, because everything is a ‘trait’ to many people. For instance, someone will say that they have a trait such as trust. Well, that's not really a trait.” Avolio emphasizes the importance of understanding leadership as a dynamic process rather than as a static set of dispositional characteristics.

The Importance of Development over Selection

Avolio argues that "selection is important, but development is even more important and harder to do." He highlights the need for continuous development to ensure leaders can adapt to the evolving demands of their roles, noting that it often takes new leaders years to fully understand their roles and responsibilities.

Avolio explains, "We've had people come into administrative leadership roles and taking three years to really understand the role, including the leadership dynamics. And that's costly to an organization...How many CEOs fail? I mean, it's a very high rate. Some say one in three.  We can do a much better job on facilitating their transition into these leadership roles.” 

The Role of Context in Leadership

Avolio underscores the significance of context in leadership. He draws parallels between leadership and architecture, where understanding and integrating the context is essential for effective leadership. “Architects focus on context. When you work with an architect, you learn how the design of a building, including its image, positioning, and structure, is deeply influenced by its surroundings.” This perspective aligns with his broader view that leadership cannot be understood in isolation, but must be seen within the specific environments and challenges leaders face.

He elaborates, "Frank Lloyd Wright has this quote: 'The house should grace the hill.' See, a lot of our houses, we just dig a foundation, and we drop it in there, and then we build another one, and another one. Wright talks about going to where he was building a house for a client. There was a waterfall and a creek in the middle of the property. Some people who worked with him said, you know we should build the house where you can look down on the waterfall. But Wright’s approach was to integrate the waterfall and the creek that feeds it into the design of the house itself. The build integrated the surroundings with the new structure. And that's how leadership should be. You want leaders to operate harmoniously with their surroundings.”

Conclusion

Bruce Avolio's insights provide a comprehensive view of leadership that emphasizes development, context, and transformational change. His experiences and research highlight the complexities of leadership and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation. Aspiring leaders and researchers can draw valuable lessons from his perspectives and apply these principles to their own leadership practices.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Bruce Avolio and the Foster School of Business.