Synopses & Reviews
For more than 20 years, Kouzes and Posner's The Leadership Challenge franchise has helped people discover and develop their leadership potential. A basic premise of the program is that everyone has a potential leader within, and with practice, can get better at it.
In this all-new, accessible work that will appeal to the devotees of the franchise and new readers as well, Jim and Barry ground their teachings in some of the real world challenges leaders and potential leader's face. This new work will explore the 10 truths every leaders must know, the questions they must be prepared to answer, and the real-world issues they will likely face.
Leadership is a relationship. Leadership is a relationship between those who choose to lead and those who choose to follow. Any discussion of leadership must attend to the dynamics of this relationship. Exemplary leaders are devoted to building relationships based on mutual respect and caring, because they know that the quality of the relationships will determine the quality of the results. The emotional intelligence of a leader has more to do with their effectiveness than their experience and their expertise. One leader told us, I may not be the most knowledgeable person...but I know how to get other people to think well about themselves. What an awesome ability to have. The very best leaders know that their job is to make others feel powerful and capable, not to acquire power for themselves. The very best know that leadership is not really about leaders. It's all about the people and the purpose.
Truth 1. Leadership is everyone's business.
Truth 2. Credibility is the foundation.
Truth 3. Personal values drive commitment.
Truth 4. You either lead by example, or you don't lead at all.
Truth 5. Looking forward is a leadership prerequisite.
Truth 6. It's not just the leader's vision.
Truth 7. Challenge provides the opportunity for greatness.
Truth 8. You can't do it alone.
Truth 9. Caring is at the heart of leadership.
Truth 10. Leadership can be learned.
Review
“This book cuts through the clutter and reminds us of what really matters. The introduction alone is worth the price of the book.”
—PATRICK LENCIONI, president, The Table Group, and author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Getting Naked
“The leadership truths Kouzes and Posner lay out have not only endured the test of time but are even more relevant now in a world transformed by Twittering Millennials. Buy copies for yourself, your boss, and also for leaders of your organization.”
—CHARLENE LI, author of Open Leadership, and founder, Altimeter Group
“The Truth About Leadership provides some of the best practical advice on leadership I’ve read in a long time. If you have not read Kouzes and Posner and you manage people, shame on you. Start here. If you have read their work and your workplace needs a shot in the arm, you’ll find this book a quick, engaging jewel that will help you become a more trusted, credible, and valued leader.”
—ADRIAN GOSTICK, author of The Carrot Principle
“I’ve always been a big proponent of simple truths. That’s why I love the new book from Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, The Truth About Leadership. Jim and Barry spell out ten fundamental truths about leadership and every one of them is right on. If you want to do a fact check on your leadership expertise, read this book!”
—KEN BLANCHARD, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level
“Regardless of your experience, age, generation, or life stage, The Truth About Leadership will remind you of the vital role leaders play in our lives, renew your interest in understanding what makes a leader great, and rekindle your desire to be an inspiring leader yourself.”
—LYNNE LANCASTER, coauthor of When Generations Collide and The M-Factor
“Elegant in its simplicity and powerful in its depth, The Truth About Leadership dazzles the reader with evidence-based knowledge and practical inspiration This is that one in a million book that serves to pull an entire field together for the reader. No matter how many books you’ve read on leadership, you will better understand each of them after reading this remarkable book.”
—COLONEL TOM KOLDITZ, PhD, professor, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and author of In Extremis Leadership
“This is a book a leader should put on his or her nightstand and read a chapter a night to refresh on what is important from a leadership perspective.”
—STEPHEN ALMASSY, Global Vice Chair, OCA/Industry, Ernst & Young Global Limited
Synopsis
In these turbulent times when the very foundations of organizations and societies are being shaken, leaders need to move beyond the pessimistic predictions, the trendy fads, and the simplistic solutions. They need to turn to what's real and what's proven. It's vitally important to understand what the evidence tells us about how exemplary leaders get extraordinary things done. This is the imperative that best-selling, award-winning authors James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner have undertaken in their engaging, personal, and bold new book, The Truth about Leadership. In ten time-tested truths, Kouzes and Posner reveal what every leader must know, the questions they must be prepared to answer, and the real-world issues they will likely face.
Truth #1: You Make a Difference
Truth #2: Credibility Is the Foundation
Truth #3: Values Drive Commitment
Truth #4: Focusing on the Future Sets Leaders Apart
Truth #5: You Can't Do It Alone
Truth #6: Trust Rules
Truth #7: Challenge Is the Crucible of Greatness
Truth #8: You Either Lead by Example or You Don't Lead at All
Truth #9: The Best Leaders Are the Best Learners
Truth #10: Leadership Is an Affair of the Heart.
Synopsis
In these turbulent times when the very foundations of organizations and societies are being shaken, leaders need to move beyond the pessimistic predictions, the trendy fads, and the simplistic solutions. They need to turn to what's real and what's proven, to understand what the evidence tells us about how exemplary leaders get extraordinary things done. This is the imperative that bestselling, award-winning authors James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner have undertaken in their engaging, personal, and bold new book, The Truth About Leadership.
Based on thirty years of researchand more than one million responses to Kouzes and Posner's leadership assessmentthis all-new work explores the fundamental, enduring truths of leadership that hold constant regardless of context or circumstance. In ten time-tested truths, Kouzes and Posner reveal what all leaders must know, the questions they must be prepared to answer, and the real-world issues they will likely face.
For nearly three decades, Kouzes and Posner's The Leadership Challenge has helped people discover and develop their leadership potential. The Truth About Leadership will show emerging leaders the heart of leadership and what they need to know to be effective; fans of The Leadership Challenge will find a dynamic new look at what it means to lead today. This is a book leaders can use to do their real and necessary workbringing about theessential changes that will renew organizationsand communities.
Synopsis
Drawing from cases spanning three generations of leaders from around the world, this is a book leaders can use to do their real and necessary work--bringing about the essential changes that will renew organizations and communities.
Synopsis
Praise for The Truth About Leadership
"This book cuts through the clutter and reminds us of what really matters. The introduction alone is worth the price of the book."Patrick Lencioni, president, The Table Group, and author, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Getting Naked
"The leadership truths Kouzes and Posner lay out have not only endured the test of time but are even more relevant now in a world transformed by Twittering Millennials. Buy copies for yourself, your boss, and also for the up-and-coming leaders of your organization." Charlene Li, author, Open Leadership, and founder, Altimeter Group
"Elegant in its simplicity and powerful in its depth, The Truth About Leadership dazzles.... This is that one-in-a-million book that serves to pull an entire field together for the reader. No matter how many books you've read on leadership, you will better understand each of them after reading this remarkable book." Colonel Tom Kolditz, PhD, professor, US Military Academy at West Point, and author, In Extremis Leadership
"This is a book every leader should put on his or her nightstand and read a chapter a night."Stephen Almassy, global vice chair, Ernst & Young Global Limited
"Regardless of your experience, age, generation, or life stage, The Truth About Leadership will remind you of the vital role leaders play in our lives, renew your interest in understanding what makes a leader great, and rekindle your desire to be an inspiring leader yourself." Lynne Lancaster, coauthor, When Generations Collide and The M-Factor
"The Truth About Leadership provides some of the best practical advice on leadership I've read in a long time. If you have not read Kouzes and Posner and you manage people, shame on you.
Start here. If you have read their work and your workplace needs a shot in the arm, you'll find this book a quick, engaging jewel that will help you become a more trusted, credible, and valued leader."Adrian Gostick, author, The Carrot Principle
Synopsis
A fresh look at what it means to lead from two of the biggest names in leadership
In these turbulent times, when the very foundations of organizations and societies are shaken, leaders need to move beyond pessimistic predictions, trendy fads, and simplistic solutions. They need to turn to what's real and what's proven. In their engaging, personal, and bold new book, Kouzes and Posner reveal ten time-tested truths that show what every leader must know, the questions they must be prepared to answer, and the real-world issues they will likely face.
- Based on thirty years of research, more than one million responses to Kouzes and Posner's leadership assessment, and the questions people most want leaders to answer
- Explores the fundamental, enduring truths of leadership that hold constant regardless of context or circumstance-leaders make a difference, credibility, values, trust, leading by example, heart, and more
- Shows emerging leaders what they need to know to be effective; fans of The Leadership Challenge will find a dynamic new look at the real challenges leaders face today
Drawing from cases spanning three generations of leaders from around the world, this is a book leaders can use to do their real and necessary work-bringing about the essential changes that will renew organizations and communities.
About the Author
James M. Kouzes is the Dean's Executive Professor of Leadership, Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, and one of the leading executive educators in the United States.
Barry Z. Posner is Professor of Leadership at Santa Clara University, where he served as Dean of the Leavey School of Business for twelve years (19962009).
Together, they are the bestselling authors of The Leadership Challenge, A Leader's Legacy, Credibility, Encouraging the Heart, The Leadership Challenge Workbook, and over a dozen other books and workbooks on leadership. They also developed the highly acclaimed Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), a 360-degree assessment tool based on The Five Practices. They are among the most sought-after scholars and educators on the subjects of leadership and leadership development.
For more information, please visit www.truthaboutleadership.com
Table of Contents
Introduction: What Everyone Wants to Know About Leadership.
Truth 1: You Make a Difference.
Truth 2: Credibility Is the Foundation of Leadership.
Truth 3: Values Drive Commitment.
Truth 4: Focusing on the Future Sets Leaders Apart.
Truth 5: You Can't Do It Alone.
Truth 6: Trust Rules.
Truth 7: Challenge Is the Crucible of Greatness.
Truth 8: You Either Lead by Example or You Don't Lead at All.
Truth 9: The Best Leaders Are the Best Learners.
Truth 10: Leadership Is an Affair of the Heart.
Epilogue: Leaders Say Yes.
About the Authors.
Acknowledgements.
Notes.
Index.