Skip to main content

From Politics to Business: How Wide Is the Leadership Gap?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Outsider Leadership

Abstract

The chapter examines the transition made by a prominent political leader (Roland Koch) to become CEO of a very large publicly listed construction group in Germany. The chapter highlights the importance for an outsider of gaining the acceptance of insiders. An entry strategy for outsider leaders is discussed that entails adopting a “deep dive” into the business, as is the value of attaining alignment behind a common objective. The importance of prior experience for the outsider and the need to leverage this wisely is considered, as is the merit of maintaining a degree of internal stability in the key early stages of transition. Outsider leaders can expect to be resisted and challenged by others, which needs to be contemplated. At times these challenges can be helpful and constructive, but not when they are of a disruptive nature. The chapter ends with a conclusion and a reflection on its content.

This chapter is written by Chris O’Riordan; Patrick C. Flood; Felicity Kelliher; Malcolm Higgs

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Translated from German using Google Translate.

  2. 2.

    Translated from German using Google Translate.

  3. 3.

    Translated from German using Google Translate.

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

O’Riordan, C., Flood, P.C., Kelliher, F., Higgs, M. (2019). From Politics to Business: How Wide Is the Leadership Gap?. In: Outsider Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97463-7_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics