Encouraging the Heart: A Leader's Guide to Rewarding and Recognizing Others (Jossey-Bass Business & Management)

The Most Trusted Source For Becoming a Better Leader

When it comes to motivating people to higher standards of performance, nothing—not even money—works as powerfully as the recognition of individual effort and achievement. And yet this "soft" leadership skill is one many leaders find hardest to command. In this work, the best-selling authors of The Leadership Challenge delve deeply into the art of encouragement and reveal the practices and techniques exceptional leaders use to inspire extraordinary performance in others. Charged with real-world examples, practical ideas, and expert advice, Encouraging the Heart is your guide to mastering one of the most important elements of exemplary leadership.

"Beyond the terrific stories and examples, Encouraging the Heart is a wonderful tool for creating a workforce that cares. In today's economy of job-hopping and nanosecond loyalty, can anything be more valuable?"

—Patrick Lencioni, author, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and president, The Table Group

"Kouzes and Posner have done it again. Encouraging the Heart is an insightful, easy-to-read book that shows modern leaders how to foster pride, courage, hope, ownership, and achievement. It's a wonderful mix of research findings and practical observations drawn from the authors' extensive experience with leaders."

—William C. Byham, Ph.D., president and CEO, Development Dimensions International

Kouzes and Posner (Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University) reveal techniques used by exceptional leaders to inspire extraordinary performance in others. The method they describe involves setting clear standards, paying attention, personalized recognition, setting an example, and celebrating together. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

All too often, simple acts of human kindness are often overlooked and under utilized by people in leadership roles. Advising mutual respect and recognition of accomplishments, Encouraging the Heart shows us how true leaders encourage and motivate those they work with by helping them find their voice and making them feel like heroes. Recognized experts in the field of leadership, authors James Kouzes and Barry Posner show us that, through love, leaders can encourage, and indeed allow those around them to be their very best. Both practical and inspirational, Encouraging the Heart gives readers a thoughtful approach to motivating individuals within an organizational structure.

Read Chapter 3 or Chapter 12, or see The Encouragement Index.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-186) and index.

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner are authors of the award-winning and best-selling books, The Leadership Challenge, A Leader's Legacy, Encouraging the Heart, and Credibility as well as the widely used Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). The launch of LPI Online, combined with their other publications, truly make them the most trusted source on becoming a better leader.