Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?

(And How to Fix It)

By: Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann

Look around your office. Turn on the TV. Incompetent leadership is everywhere, and there's no denying that most of these leaders are men.

In this timely and provocative book, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic asks two powerful questions: Why is it so easy for incompetent men to become leaders? And why is it so hard for competent people - especially competent women - to advance? Marshaling decades of rigorous research, Chamorro-Premuzic points out that although men make up a majority of leaders, they underperform when compared with female leaders. In fact, most organizations equate leadership potential with a handful of destructive personality traits, like overconfidence and narcissism. In other words, these traits may help someone get selected for a leadership role, but they backfire once the person has the job.

When competent women - and men who don't fit the stereotype - are unfairly overlooked, we all suffer the consequences. The result is a deeply flawed system that rewards arrogance rather than humility and loudness rather than wisdom. There is a better way. With clarity and verve, Chamorro-Premuzic shows us what it really takes to lead and how new systems and processes can help us put the right people in charge.

©2019 Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic (P)2020 Gildan Media

Skeptical but much more than the title may imply

I was intrigued by the title of this book, knowing that I have experience this. There were so many facts and studies referenced in it really surprised me.

The Ultimate Leadership Book, Backed by Science!

As a public service practitioner with many years of lived experience, I am relieved to read this "tell-it-like-it-is" and "back-it-up-with-facts" book about the truth of leadership and leaders in organizations in every sector of society. With all the literature and lectures on good, effective, and positive leadership, it appears most leaders are not reading, embracing, or accepting the principles of sound leadership. They would much rather scratch or network their way into positions of influence and spend their careers defending it and protecting dysfunctional cultures than actually making a difference in the lives of people they are charged with serving. The gender distinctions, though certainly not accurate for all, are spot on in my experience. It took courage and principled-centered leadership to write this book. Bravo!

What you expect

3.5
All the reasons you expect. I like that there were suggestions to fix the issues but the author also noted that most of the leaders that need the suggestions, are uninterested in hearing them.