by Gloria Flores
Staff Writer
“Coffee, cake and conversation” was the theme for renowned author and leadership expert Warren Bennis, whose lecture was held in Founders Auditorium Saturday.
Bennis presented his most recent and critically acclaimed book “Geeks and Geezers,” which he co-authored with fellow leadership expert, Robert J. Thomas. The book addresses the differences between two successful business generations.
Bennis and Thomas present a model of business leadership based on interviews with successful business people from a range of generations.
In their book, the authors coin the older group geezers and the younger group geeks, as they seek to understand how experience and values shape the actions and attitudes of present and past business leaders.
A key term frequently used in the book is “crucible,” which is used to describe a test of patience that can utterly transform an individual through hardship.
Many of Bennis’ fans filled Founders Auditorium with a personal copy of “Geeks and Geezers” in hand for the book signing that preceded the discussion.
University of La Verne President Stephen Morgan, introduced Bennis, saying that he regards Bennis as a mentor from the time they spent together at University of Southern California.
Morgan joked about being unable to spot celebrities that directly cross his path at an airport or restaurant, “but I saw Warren Bennis pulling up from a block away. That’s how you know I have my priorities straight.”
Bennis’ lecture followed a structured format as he admitted that he has a tendency to drift off subject. He opened by describing the key differences between the two generations.
He spoke and showed the audience clips that demonstrated how many of today’s younger leaders are on a quest to find balance between their personal lives and careers.
WWII leaders, on the other hand, attribute many of their accomplishments to their relentless dedication to their careers, which were driven by a strong passion for the cause.
Bennis continued discussing the adaptations to “crucibles” and leadership competencies. He concluded with a powerful poem on leadership and opened the floor to questions.
Bennis’ first interest in the subject of leadership was sparked while observing his older twin brothers, one whom had natural leadership abilities unlike the other.
Bennis’ early fascination would later carry him through a very successful and prestigious career as a leadership educator, writer and adviser.
During his youth, Bennis served as an Army lieutenant during WWII, which was when he first studied leadership seriously.
“I learned as much from my men as they learned from me,” Bennis said.
Bennis later attended Antioch College on his GI Bill. It was there that Bennis met his mentor, Antioch College President Douglas McGregor. McGregor founded the school of industrial psychology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Bennis earned a Doctorate in economics and social science at MIT and then went on to teach at its Sloan School of Management.
The further he advanced in his academic career, the more he became preoccupied with his need “not just to teach and research management and leadership, but to experience it firsthand,” Bennis said.
Since then, Bennis has served as an adviser to the past four U.S. Presidents and consulted many corporations and agencies, including the United Nations.
Bennis is currently a distinguished professor of business administration at USC and the founding chairman of USCs Leadership Institute.
He has now entered what he calls a great stage in life. One where he is actively pursuing his writing while mentoring and educating youth.
“I am interested in these youngsters,” Bennis said. “They are the visual, virtual and digital generation that is so different from my WWII generation.”
Clark Crawford, student of business administration at USC, said, “I have always admired Warren Bennis. I like his overall approach to leadership and management and his use of light humor to deliver his message.”
Upcoming guest authors brought to ULV by the Master’s Program in Leadership and Management include Jay Conger, Kevin Cashman and Jean Lipman-Blumen. For more information, visit www.ulv.edu/mslm.
Gloria Flores
