Why Smart People Have Trouble Learning Leadership

by Laura Montini
culled from:http://www.inc.com
Harvard Business professor Robert Kaplan says the brightest people to work the hardest at leadership skills.
Harvard Business School Professor of Management Robert Kaplan doesn't agree with the premise that leadership can't be taught.

He does believe, however, that very intelligent people have the hardest time learning the skill. 

"Why would you ever delegate to someone else? Why would you ever do that if you're the smartest person in the room?" Kaplan says. "A lot of things that you need to learn as a leader -- asking questions, seeking advice, framing issues -- do not come naturally to highly talented people."

So how do you begin to acquire leadership skills?

Start by asking questions, Kaplan advises. Most people think that management is about having all of the answers, but it's extremely difficult to focus on the right things to ask.

"What it does is allow you to engage others and figure out how to step back, reassess and then move forward. And many leaders are loathe to do that," he says.

So when Kaplan works with entrepreneurs, he doesn't coach them on problem solving skills. Rather, he says he tries to help them come up with meaningful questions.  

"I've learned that if they step back and ask the right questions, they're very likely to get themselves on track," Kaplan says.