The leadership odyssey: The real journey to great leadership
Why is it so hard for successful executives to become more empowering once they’ve reached senior leadership?
In this video, Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School, explains her research on what she calls the “leadership odyssey.” Based on 75 CEO successions and the experiences of more than 230 candidates, her work shows that leaders are often selected for delivering results—but success in their new role depends on people skills they may not yet have.
The journey from leading by directing to leading by enabling isn’t a single leap—it’s filled with trials, setbacks, and transformation. Leadership development, Herminia argues, should be understood not simply as a skill set to acquire, but as a deeper identity shift over time.
Why is it so hard for successful executives to become more empowering once they’ve reached senior leadership?
In this video, Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School, explains her research on what she calls the “leadership odyssey.” Based on 75 CEO successions and the experiences of more than 230 candidates, her work shows that leaders are often selected for delivering results—but success in their new role depends on people skills they may not yet have.
The journey from leading by directing to leading by enabling isn’t a single leap—it’s filled with trials, setbacks, and transformation. Leadership development, Herminia argues, should be understood not simply as a skill set to acquire, but as a deeper identity shift over time.