Could it be that in Ebenezer Scrooge one can identify the genesis of the MBA? After all, both share an obsession with accountancy and the belief that employee welfare matters only to the employee and is a net cost to the business.

Twenty years ago, it was people power that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. People also have the power to shape organizations, lead transformation and create the demand for products and services. So to remain competitive, companies need to harness this power.

We need great leadership now more than ever. But we're not getting it - because we seem to have forgotten what leadership really is. Leadership is about work, not personality. It's not about being visionary and it's not about managing people. Business leaders simply need to manage performance

The real toll of the recession is its impact on everyday people. Smart managers know that creating a climate of fear isn't going to help. Instead, they need to focus on the right things that together create a more motivating work environment for their employees.

How do you inspire confidence and innovation in an organization whose employees are worried sick about their jobs? The answer isn't that complicated – and it doesn't involve employee engagement surveys.

Companies are increasingly blocking employees from accessing Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the like citing concerns over security and productivity. But in building eWalls to keep out danger, organizations may also be keeping out knowledge.