Journal Article
In this article the authors take an in-depth look at Vladimir Putin, highlighting how his formative experiences have coloured his world view. It compares his accomplishments to successful business executives, studying his performance through the same lenses used to assess CEOs of large corporations, and reviewing the degree to which his various constituencies seem to be satisfied with his performance.
This article also tries to clarify the peculiar psychological interplay between leaders and their followers and explores the potentially collusive group dynamics between leaders and the people they lead. Through its clinical orientation, this article extends more traditional studies of leadership by studying the inner theater of leaders—that is, highlighting significant episodes in leaders’ lives that influence their leadership style.
The article touches on the significance of the historical moment—the interplay between personality and an important period in a country’s history.
Kets de Vries and Shekshnia speculate about the kind of leader Russia needs to take the country to the next phase of its development.
Faculty
Distinguished Clinical Professor of Leadership Development and Organizational Change
Senior Affiliate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise
