Effective leaders typically enact two roles, a charismatic role and an architectural role. Our research focuses on the challenges successful leaders face in contemporary organisations and highlights that, to succeed in a leadership role, the capacity to self reflect is essential.
"Profile of Vladimir Putin"
This paper compares Russian President Vladimir Putin to effective 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 are satisfied with his performance.
INSEAD Working Paper, May 2005
Working Papers
"Psychological profile of successful CEOs"
In this interview, Kets de Vries draws on three decades of study to describe the psychological profile of successful CEOs, exploring senior executives' vulnerabilities, which are often intensified by followers' attempts to manipulate their leaders.
Harvard Business Review, Nov 2004
Interviews
This book is an easy-to-read overview of all the key events and people in Alexander the Great's extraordinary life, and provides lessons on effective leadership.
Karnac Books, Oct 2004
Books
"Leadership lessons from Alexander the Great"
This article explores what makes for effective leadership and what contributes to leadership derailment, using Alexander the Great of Macedonia, as an example.
European Management Journal, Jun 2003
Articles
Leaders can – at different times – be masters of disguise, seduction, and manipulation – but Kets de Vries explains cogently and convincingly why leaders who don’t first master themselves will never master their organizations effectively or humanely.
Wiley, Dec 1999
Books
This book takes readers into the private worlds of Virgin founder Richard Branson, ABB's Percy Barnevik and British Petroleum titan David Simon to provide candid accounts of how each has managed to redefine organizational growth and development in the late 20th century.
Jossey-Bass, Mar 1999
Books
This book explores the way in which character traits and behavioral patterns affect leadership style.
Management Briefing, Dec 1996
Books
