A lack of leadership among UK firms has created top managers
who think short-term, do not take risks and have tunnel vision on the bottom
line.
This is the view of Hilarie Owen, chief executive of the
Institute of Leadership, which was launched this week to help improve
leadership in UK firms.
Owen, who has studied the subject for more than 20 years,
believes that British companies are handicapped by conservative thinking at
senior level and that poor leadership is common throughout corporate
structures.
She said, "We have to have organisations which are more
focused on leadership.
"So many companies have very rigid processes with many
managers.
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"People have got to the top by being managers rather
than leaders. As a result they are risk-averse, focused on the bottom line and
think short-term."
