Book Review

Title

Selected: Why Some People Lead, why Others Follow, and why it Matters

Authors

Mark Van Vugt, Anjana Ahuja

Edition

illustrated

Publisher Random House of Canada, 2011

ISBN

0307358623, 9780307358622

Length

262 pages

Selected is a thesis about the origins of social

organization and Mark Van Vugt and Ahuja (the
authors)

introduces

the

new

theory

of

Evolutionary Leadership. The authors argue that

modern

leadership

theories

and

the

social

organization of nations and organizations and

their leaders, often fail as the style of leadership is
at odds with the hardwired leadership preferences
humans have adopted through our 2.5 million
history as a species. The book is meant to sum
up van Vugts research to date and introduce his
findings to a wider and more lay audience.
Leadership is entrusted from below, not appointed from above
If you have ever been a part of an organization larger than one you will know
that where humans cooperate conflicts exist. Even in organizations of one
there are conflicts which goes to show our inability to live in peace. But why is
it that some in an organization lead and other follow? The authors suggest
that just as important as leadership is what they call followership. Humans
choose their leaders based on evolutionary instincts for optimizing survival,

and to follow them. Hence a conflict has arrived over the past centuries
through the industrial revolution whereby corporations owned by shareholders
appoint leaders from the top down.

The authors also argue that when the

hunter-gatherers became farmers 13,000 years ago and thus gave rise to very
large societies such as we know today a disconnect between the leader we
personally know to the elected or otherwise appointed leader we only know
through media.
The authors conclusion at least for now, is that successful organizations and
their leaders are so, as they accommodate the evolutionary leadership and
followership principles and keep organizations small and personal. Research
has shown that we as human beings have a capacity for a network of family,
friends and colleagues of 150 people. Just think of it as the amount of people
you have an ongoing conversation with. If you use social media such as
Facebook or LinkedIn you probably have around 150 connections, and so do
your

connections.

number.

So

organizations

should

be

organized

around

this

The authors also suggest that particularly middle management

should be appointed from within, and selected by peers rather than being hired
from the outside and appointed.
The authors details six natural leader types and suggest that we all have these
traits to larger or smaller degrees which has successfully developed through
the evolution of human mankind. Each type has its own function within the
group and is needed at different times of the life of the group. The Warrior
primary role is to defend the group against external threats whether natural or
manmade. The Scout seeks new resources and opportunities for the group in
the external environment. The Diplomat forms alliances to outside group to
mutual benefit. The Arbiter maintains peace and harmony in the group. The
Manager allocates resources and organizes activities. The Teacher distributes
knowledge handed down the generations. The authors invite the reader to
participate in online research to further their studies and develop the theory.

If you have influence on how your organization, whether social or professional

is managed and organized you will find this book interesting and the authors
further research enlightening. I think it is very worthwhile to heed their
recommendations particularly in these times of restructuring and re-organizing
to make companies able to whether the economic difficulties we are living
through in this decade.
A groundbreaking, evolutionary science-based exploration of the history of
leadership that explains how and why some men and women evolve into good
or great leaders, and some do not.

This is the first book of its kind reaching into business, psychology, politics
and current affairs to explore how leadership affects us all. Selected provides
deep insight into our personal and professional lives at a time when the world
urgently needs to acknowledge great leadership.

By,
Chintan Trivedi
Executive HR
TOTO India Industries Pvt. Ltd.