Flipping without Flopping

This article by Prof. Roderick Kramer made it to the top of the HBR list of "Breakthrough Ideas for 2005". It demystifies the macho image of a leader always sticking to his course, unwavering and decisive to the point of inflexibility. Of course these characteristics are very important but not so at the cost of renouncing learning. Flip-flopping here does not signify vacillating or being indecisive. It is a more long term phenomena. It means the ability to change course due to new information which changes the original belief or vision. In other words it is the ability to adapt and be flexible. Of course doing it too often and without preparing the audience could be detrimental to the image of the leader. So it is necessary to manage these changes through expectation management, good communication policy and building credibility.
Often the problem of not being able to change courses is not just what the public would think rather it is the ego of the leader. This I believe is a bigger problem than damage to the image that the leader gives.