Frederick Business Leaders Get Gettysburg Leadership Lesson

Nationally known, regional leadership guru Steve Wiley told an audience of Frederick area business and civic leaders to keep their followers--employees, members, and constituents--in mind to communicate and inspire as did the most successful leaders in the Gettysburg conflict in the U.S. Civil War.

The CEO of Gettysburg, PA-based Lincoln Leadership Institute (http://www.lincolnleadershipinstitute.com) spoke at Hood College's Hodson Auditorium for the first Keynote of 2009 hosted by the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development (http://www.businessinfrederick.com/) .

Wiley challenged leaders to surpass "transactional leadership"--a management style that he said is "good enough" when the leader successfully delegates, manages and controls the organization. But "transformational leadership" is what was needed in the stressful and unexpected leadership vaccuum at the Battle of Gettysburg. Leaders who learn from and emulate the style can elevate their and can elevate organizations from good to great, he said. His example Tuesday night was Col. Joshua Chamberlain, who led the 20th Maine in the successful charge at Little Roundtop.

In todays business environment, when studies show 70% of employees are disengaged from the goals of their organizations, often because of lack of leadership, good leadership is critical, he said.

FREDERICK SIDELINES: Wiley recognized his old high school basketball coach, Dave Markoe, whose Frederick resume includes leadership at the Board of Education, YMCA of Frederick and Frederick County Business Roundtable for Education (http://www.frederickchamber.org/cwt/external/wcpages/programs/FCBRE.aspx).

Harby Tran and Pattee Brown of 270Inc Magazine (http://www.270inc.com/) were major sponsors of the event, as well as the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce.