THE PROBLEM

we learn what leaders do, but we don’t understand why

functional understanding is knowing the what without the why

Functional understanding focuses on how leaders function in various contexts. Typical examples include:

• industry leadership (e.g. “tech leadership”, “ manufacturing leadership”)
• role-based leadership (e.g. “sales manager”, “operations manager”
• cultural leadership (e.g. “western vs asian leadership”)
• person-centric leadership (e.g. imitating established or well-known leaders)

However, leadership practices from one context may not apply to other contexts. By emphasizing what works rather than why it works, functional understanding produces an incomplete picture of leadership.

functional understanding limits leadership growth and effectiveness

The inherent incompleteness of functional understanding constrains leadership thinking and limits leaders at every stage of development:

Leaders are the primary catalysts for growth and value creation, and a limit on leaders limits the whole organisation.