Synopses & Reviews
JOIN MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGEPraise for The Leadership Challenge
"Leadership books are a dime a dozen, and most don't last a week, let alone years. The Leadership Challengehas lasted because it is research-based, it is practical, and it has heart! Believe me, Jim and Barry have hard evidence for what we usually think of as a soft topic."
—Tom Peters, management guru, founder, and chairman, Tom Peters Company, and author of In Search of Excellence
"For all who lead others or aspire to lead others, The Leadership Challengeis the indispensable guidebook. Its vision and message inspire, engage, and motivate leaders of the future to lead the organization of the future, into a future no one can yet describe. Once again Kouzes and Posner provide the leadership resource exactly right for the challenges of our turbulent times."
—Frances Hesselbein, chairman, Leader to Leader Institute; former CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA
"Jim and Barry have done the most practical, comprehensive, and inspiring research on leadership that I have ever read. Instead of another version of 'celebrity leadership,' The Leadership Challengehelps us gain practical wisdom from real leaders at all levels in many types of organizations. Every leader can relate to the knowledge in this book!"
—Marshall Goldsmith, best-selling author of What Got You Here Won't Get You Thereand one of Forbes' five top executive coaches
"This is a wonderful book about people. Kouzes and Posner know that companies and organizations don't accomplish great things, people do! They use sound research, true principles, and interesting real-life stories to make their case, and they teach the specific skills that each of us needs to be good leaders and better people. Already read an earlier edition? Me too. Now go read it again."
—David A. Petersen, president and CEO, O.C. Tanner Company
Review
"The management classic", (
Financial Times, Tuesday 11th September 2007)
"After 20 years in print, this key publication has undergone a substantial revision for its fourth edition." (People Management, Thursday 1st November 2007)
"After three editions and 20 years in print, this leadership classic continues to be the premier resource on becoming a leader." (Securities & Investment Review, November 2007)
Review
"...will take you along a leadership journey of discovery and inspiration..." (sps.org.uk, The Strategic Planning Society, October 2002)
"...This reissued and revised 'classic' is grounded in extensive research..." (Human Resources, January 2003)
"...this book is an easy read...well produced and despite the research clear of management jargon?well written..." (AccountingWEB.UK, 7 January 2003)
Review
"Leadership books are a dime a dozen and most don't last a week let alone years.
The Leadership Challenge has lasted because it is research based, it is practical, and it has heart! Believe me&they have hard evidence for what we usually think of as a soft topic. This book especially shines when ordinary folks can take these practices and work them into our lives on a moment-by-moment basis. Both authors are leaders in their own right, which doesn't hurt a bit. Why offer a new revision? Practically speaking, Jim and Barry have piles of new data to share, new real life examples to tell, and updates given the wild and crazy new economy." --Tom Peters, management guru, founder and chairman, Tom Peters Company and author,
In Search of Excellence"Based upon evidence collected from around the world and over decades, The Leadership Challenge provides practical guidance on how to lead and inspiration to make the effort." --Jeffrey Pfeffer, professor, Stanford Business School and author, The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First."Kouzes and Posner are correct-leadership hasn't changed, but the context in which leaders operate has shifted dramatically. And that makes all the difference, as the two authors who have conducted perhaps the most important research on leadership describe in eloquent language and instructive case studies. If you read their first book, it's time to go back to the classroom and place your knowledge about leadership in a new context. If you didn't read the first edition, reading this book may be the most important thing you do this year to develop yourself as a leader!" --Janelle Barlow, president, TMI, US and co-author, A Complaint Is A Gift, Emotional Value, and Smart Videoconferencing
"Kouzes and Posner have written a book of reaffirmation. They have reaffirmed&with scholarship, stories, and their own ability to express ideas clearly&what it takes to lead. They return again and again to the essential qualities and values that enable one person to influence others&the capacity to reach and touch one another as caring, compassionate human beings." --David Lawrence, MD, chair/CEO, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
"Kouzes and Posner give us breadth and depth with real world examples of everyday leadership from everyday people who are meeting the extraordinary challenges of our time. A book of exceptional, real-world insight on what it takes to be a leader in our most complex and challenging times." --Regis McKenna, chairman, The McKenna Group and author, Total Access
"The Leadership Challenge has been my primary leadership text since 1988. It is the blue print for getting others to want to do what we are convinced needs to be done and is required reading for anyone who aspires to be a next-generation leader." — Andy Stanley, founding pastor, North Point Community Church
"In The Leadership Challenge, chairs, deans, and provosts will find inspiration as well as practical suggestions that fit well with the difficult situations with which leaders in the academy struggle." --Ann Lucas, professor of Organization Development, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and author of Strengthening Departmental Leadership and Leading Academic Change
Synopsis
The most trusted resource on becoming a leader is now updated and revised for a new generation.
This leadership classic continues to be a bestseller after three editions and twenty years in print. It is the gold standard for research-based leadership, and the premier resource on becoming a leader. This new edition, with streamlined text, more international and business examples, and a graphic redesign, is more readable and accessible than ever before. The Leadership Challenge, Fourth Edition, has been extensively updated with the latest research and case studies, and offers inspiring new stories of real people achieving extraordinary results. The authors' central theme remains the same and is more relevant today than ever: "Leadership is Everyones Business." Their "five practices" and "ten commitments" have been proven by hundreds of thousands of dedicated, successful leaders. This edition, with almost one-third new material, emphasizes the global community and refocuses on business leaders. Order your copy today.
Synopsis
The Leadership Challenge has become one of the best-selling leadership books of all time. Now, with the publication of the fourth edition of their landmark book, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner celebrate twenty-five years of leadership excellence.
The Leadership Challengethe most trusted source on becoming a better leaderhas been thoroughly updated and revised for a new generation of leaders living and working in a global environment. Building on the knowledge base of the previous books, the fourth edition is grounded in research and presents extensive interviews with a diverse group of leaders at all levels in a wide variety of organizations from around the world. The authors emphasize that the fundamentals of leadership are not a fad. While the context of leadership has changed dramatically, the content of leadership has endured the test of time.
With scores of new case studies and a timeless and inspiring message, The Leadership Challenge is a "personal coach in a book," guiding readers through the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®. When leaders understand that leadership is a relationship and they begin to engage in the Five Practices Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heartthey are better able to embark on a lifetime of success and significance.
Synopsis
When it was initially written in 1987, few could have predicted that The Leadership Challenge would become one of the best-selling leadership books of all time. Now, faced with the new challenges of our unpredictable global business environment, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner--two of the country's premier leadership experts--have completely revised and updated their classic book. Building on the knowledge base of their previous books, the third edition of The Leadership Challenge is grounded in extensive research and based on interviews with all kinds of leaders at all levels in public and private organizations from around the world. In this edition, the authors emphasize that the fundamentals of leadership are the same today as they were in the 1980s, and as they've probably been for centuries. In that sense, nothing's new. Leadership is not a fad. While the content of leadership has not changed, the context has-and in some cases, changed dramatically.
Synopsis
"If you didn't read The Leadership Challenge when it first came out, don't miss it this time. If you did see it before, read it again. Kouzes and Posner have updated their powerful lessons on leadership, and we've never needed them more." --Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, authors, The One to One Manager and One to One B2B, and partners, Peppers and Rogers Group
When it was initially written in 1987 few could have predicted that The Leadership Challenge would become one of the best-selling leadership books of all time. Now, faced with the new challenges of our unpredictable global business environment, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner-two of the country's premier leadership experts-have completely revised and updated their classic book. Building on the knowledge base of their previous books, the third edition of The Leadership Challenge is grounded in extensive research and based on interviews with all kinds of leaders at all levels in public and private organizations from around the world. In this edition, the authors emphasize that the fundamentals of leadership are the same today as they were in the 1980s, and as they've probably been for centuries. In that sense, nothing's new. Leadership is not a fad. While the content of leadership has not changed, the context has-and in some cases, changed dramatically.
With more than fifty percent new material and a resoundingly inspiring message, The Leadership Challenge is a "personal coach in a book"-guiding readers through The Five Practice of Exemplary Leadership?. When leaders understand that leadership is a relationship and they begin to engage in the Five Practices-- Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart-- they are better able to perform at their personal best. Success is sure to follow.
Synopsis
More Than One Million People Have Taken The Leadership Challenge
Here's Why . . .
"This book is one of the very best on the topic of leadership, offering extraordinary stories from leaders at various ages and stages of their lives. Whether you're now in a leadership role and want to further strengthen and hone your skills, or you simply have the desire to learn to make a difference and help guide your company-- or even friends and family members-- to higher levels of success, you'll benefit by reading The Leadership Challenge."
-- David S. Pottruck, president & co-CEO, The Charles Schwab Corporation
"The first edition was seminal and totally original. It became a modern classic on leadership practically overnight. With this new edition, with new cases and concepts and action steps that are even riper and more important, Kouzes and Posner go way beyond their earlier work and have made yet another brilliant contribution to leadership studies. This new book, a product of an unusual collaboration, is essential reading for everyone involved or concerned with leading."
-- Warren Bennis, distinguished professor of business administration, University of Southern California, and author, Geeks and Geezers: Crucibles of Leading and Learning
"From the ten commitments of leadership to the emphasis on actions and relationships, this valuable book is full of enduring wisdom and practical insights essential for success in challenging times."
-- Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School, best-selling author of Evolve!: Succeeding in the Digital Culture of Tomorrow
"For twenty-five years I have written about and taught leadership. The Leadership Challenge is one of the five best books I have ever read. I continually recommend it to others."
-- John C. Maxwell, founder, The INJOY Group, and author, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
About the Author
Jim Kouzes is Chairman Emeritus of the Tom Peters Company and an Executive Fellow at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University. Barry Posner is Dean of the Leavey School of Business and Professor of Leadership at Santa Clara University.
Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner are authors of the award-winning and best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge, as well as the widely used Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). They have also written such works as Credibility, Encouraging the Heart, and The Leadership Challenge Planner. The launch of LPI Online, combined with their other publications, truly make them the most trusted source on becoming a better leader.
Table of Contents
Preface: Everyone's Business- Leadership for Today and Tomorrow.
PART 1: WHAT LEADERS DO AND WHAT CONSTITUENTS EXPECT.
1 The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.
2. Credibility Is the Foundation of Leadership.
PART 2: MODEL THE WAY.
3 Find Your Voice.
4 Set the Example.
PART 3: INSPIRE A SHARED VISION.
5 Envision the Future.
6 Enlist Others.
PART 4: CHALLENGE THE PROCESS.
7. Search for Opportunities.
8. Experiment and Take Risks.
PART 5: ENABLE OTHERS TO ACT.
9. Foster Collaboration.
10. Strengthen Others.
PART 6: ENCOURAGE THE HEART.
11. Recognize Contributions.
12. Celebrate the Values and Victories.
PART 7: LEADERSHIP FOR EVERYONE.
13. Leadership Is Everyone's Business.
Appendix: Guide to the Research.
Notes.
Acknowledgments.
About the Authors.
Index.