Katherine Graham

Yesterday I drove into LA and back, which gave me just enough time to listen to the three hour abridged version of Katherine Graham's memiors.  What's most interesting about the book to me is the contrast between the two CEOs portrayed:  Graham's husband Phil, who was thrust into his publisher role at the remarkably early age of 31, and Katherine, who took over the job after his death.  Phil:  manic depressive, driven, prodigal, daring.  Katherine:  late-blooming, deliberate, lucid, brave.

Both styles have a lot to recommend them, and both were remarkable leaders.

What's the difference between bravery and daring, you ask?  Daring was making acquisitions like Newsweek, pushing the company to grow from $3.50 a share to $300 a share.  That was Phil's style.  Bravery is knowing you're taking a risk, and deciding it's worth it, or that it's the right risk to take at the right time.  As when Katherine gave Washinton Post editor Bill Bradley the go-ahead to publish the Pentagon Papers despite enormous pressures--the decision was hers alone. 

As different as the two of them were, they each seem to have been the right leader at the right time.  Many years ago the Economist published a brilliant article that facetiously (but only just) posited the obsolescence of men. It took a historical view, saying that men and their testosterone were good for nation-building and conquering, while estrogen-driven women were good for running adaptive economies (which is what a household is).  Now, if taken in the broadest cultural metaphorical terms, doesn't this help us look at our assumptions about how things ought to be done?  I.e., that feminine management styles may be better suited to operating businesses, while masculine styles may be better suited to starting or growing them?  (Note: either a man or woman can be masculine or feminine in personal style, of course, it's just a broad metaphor.)

It seems clear to me that any debate about which style is "better" misses the point--that's like thinking you need to choose between listening and talking, when it takes both to form a dialogue. 

Comments

[nancy]

The next book-on-CD I have for you is, "Bill Clinton: My Life." There's bravery here, too; he's also (stop the presses!) a side-stepper.