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The World's Most Unheralded Leaders

We Need to Celebrate Second-Tier Leadership

Have you ever heard of the Second Banana Club? Probably not.

It was the brainchild of my longtime friend Joyce Wright while her husband Linus was serving as Undersecretary of Education in Washington in the Reagan Administration.

You see, many of Washington's most prestigious events do not include undersecretaries of Federal departments on the invitation list. Only cabinet secretaries and their spouses are invited.

So Joyce and spouses of other undersecretaries formed the Second Bananas Club. Whenever there was an event which was limited to the "first bananas," , the Second Bananas Club would hold their own special event at the same time. It was their way of snubbing their nose at the Washington social scene.

Amusing as that is, there's something unique about the fundamental idea. I don't know that I've ever come across another organization dedicated to celebrating "second bananas." Yet, organizational success often depends on them.

Taking my cue from the Second Banana Club, I use this episode to highlight our need to recognize, honor, and celebrate those vital "second-tier" leaders whom we too often take for granted.

And I also pay tribute to those who never aspire to anything higher than second tier leadership. For many people, being the "second banana" is more fulfilling than being at the top. They therefore make their most valuable contribution as a second-tier leader.

As I say in my conclusion, "There's nothing second class about second-tier leadership.