I agree that the top-down leadership model found it's sweet-spot during the industrial revolution. And during any big sweeping transition like we're seeing in the workplace today, the old ways seem to "work" for quite some time.  The good news is I think the author's type of management solves the problems caused by weak leaders who tend to try to be popular or who get stuck never making a decision.  But he doesn't solve them by making them strong leaders.  He solves them by making them weak in another way.

Thanks for the great comment.  Mike...