We have studied leadership and what makes a good leader. I was thinking about unlikely leaders and my first thought was of Bono. He started out as the lead singer of the band U2 and is now a statesman on his own. He can get an audience with almost any world leader that he would like and probably has.
According to Bill George, author of “Leadership is Authenticity, Not Style” from the book “Management Skills”, Bono is the quintessential authentic leader. “Authentic leaders demonstrate these five qualities: understanding their purpose, practicing solid values, leading with heart, establishing connected relationships, and demonstrating self-discipline.”
Bono has been a leader in the fight against AIDS and poverty in Africa. He is the co-founder of ONE, a nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy group backed by more than two million people that is dedicated to the fight against global poverty and preventable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Bono also co-founded (RED) to encourage businesses to join in the fight against AIDS in Africa. In just over two years, (RED) has generated more than $120 million from some of the biggest brands in the world for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Bono helped start EDUN, an ethically sourced clothing company run by his wife, Ali Hewson; EDUN produces clothing in developing areas of the world, particularly in Africa.
Few may be aware but Bono is a Managing Director and Co-Founder of Elevation Partners, a hedge fund, which focuses on investments in market-leading media, entertainment, and consumer-related businesses. He is also a guest contributor of the Op-Ed page of The New York Times.
Catherine Crawford
I agree with you, Bono is a great example of leadership, and a very original one.
ReplyDeleteHe has taken advantage of his musical talent and fame to do something constructive towards humanity, especially in AIDS research. Similarly, to other celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Bono has continuously carried out international fundraising efforts for specific causes, and used his popularity to attract millions of people to contribute towards it. Besides being a great leader with noble goals, Bono is a creative motivator; he is what D, D & A would call the energizer. In chapter 6 of their book, they mention how Cross and colleagues (2003) "see positive energy as a very important source for motivation" (p. 166). Bono uses his music as a medium to transmit this positive energy and raise awareness about international conflicts motivating people to want to do something about it.