DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THE BEST LEADERS?

Title: DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THE BEST LEADERS? Word Count: 478 Author: JC Payne Email: coolcorporate@sbcglobal.net

The article is preformatted to 60CPL.

DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THE BEST LEADERS? by JC Payne

The October 31st, 2005 issue of U.S. News & World Report has a cover story on "America's Best Leaders," chosen by a committee convened by the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The article highlighted 25 of the best leaders, for a variety of industry backgrounds, to including names like Bill & Melinda Gates for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Steve Jobs for Apple Computer and Pixar, Brian Lamb for C-SPAN, Condoleezza Rice as United States Secretary of State, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and Oprah Winfrey for HARPO Inc. and `The Oprah Winfrey Show.'

So what does this mean to you as a reader of an article on issues pertaining to the job market? The answer to that question is another question. The answer to that question isn't as simple as it may seem.

Who do you want to work for?

The best answer most people want to give is for the best boss possible. And that would seem to be someone who instills many similar traits to those displayed in this list of best leaders.

But in reality, some of the best leaders live and work in conditions that require some of the most intense and strict behaviors, and are truly some of the hardest people to work for. May be there expectations are too high and there demands are too strict. Maybe your a little more laid back your career (or just lazy period) and the meeting the constant goals of an super-achiever are going to conflict with your plans to play pick-up basketball with the fellas later.

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates may have mellowed over the years since the initial wars over which personal computer platform would dominate the market. Or maybe now that they have more money, they can hire better publicists. The horror stories of the original days at Apple and Microsoft are legendary. Remember that Jobs was pushed out of Apple for a while for being overbearing and lording over personal projects that weren't meeting the bottom line.

Remember that Bill Gates made this list for the charitable foundation that he oversees with his wife, **not** for growing Microsoft into what is simultaneously one of the most influential and most hated companies in the world.

As you search the classified for that next possible dream job, make sure you always remember to do your homework. Study up on the company, its performance, and especially its leadership. For every episode of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' that has Oprah giving away one hundred cars, there a story about her sending staff to by her coffee and lunch because she doesn't carry small bills--and her not being good at remembering to pay them back. Whether true or the fabrication of disgruntled bad employees, you can't get the full picture from a special report.

About the Author:

JC Payne is a business professional and consultant. His writings have been featured in numerous business newsletters and magazines. He will soon be launching the online magazine/blog hybrid site Cool Corporate dot COM (www.coolcorporate.com), which will offer business life and lifestyle information geared toward younger professionals. You can contact JC at coolcorporate@sbcglobal.net.