First, some definition.  Lieder are love songs of primarily Dutch and German origin, with lyrics that evidence literary aspiration.  I first encountered the "liedership" term a dozen or so years ago in connection with productions at London's South Bank Centre.  The celebration commemorated the 200th birthday of Austria's Franz Schubert, an iconic master of the genre.

Leadership, on the other hand, wasn't in great demand in the earliest days of physical distribution.  How much leadership was really needed when all we did was move stuff from Point A to Point B, and put it someplace once it had arrived?  Slowly, but thankfully, some leaders in the field began to emerge.  They began the processes of extending our understanding of the scope of logistics and supply chain management, and they elevated our appreciation of the value of our role(s) in organizational performance.

 In today's complex and interconnected supply chains, leadership - strong leadership - is an absolute necessity.  For the really good supply chains that are built on the foundations of well-managed business relationships, leadership is the magical mystery ingredient.  The process of building strong business relationships is not a grass-roots movement, although it does require grass-roots execution.  Only leadership can provide the vision for future state success, as well as command and commit the resources of people, programs, and time needed to keep relationships  working at high levels.

And Liederkranz?  For some of us, it means a funny little American cheese, characterized by an indelibly pungent aroma, and now extinct.  But liederkranz  ("wreath of songs") is actually a singing society, and is far from extinct wherever German heritage and tradition are preserved.  Curiously, a liederkranz may be one of the few environments in which both liedership and leadership are vital to sustainable success.