Synopses & Reviews
Are you an authentic leader?Too many companies are managed not by leaders but by mere role players and faceless bureaucrats. What would it take to replace these empty suits with real leadersmen and women who are confident in who they are and what they stand for and who truly inspire people to achieve extraordinary results?
Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones argue that leaders dont become great by aspiring to a list of universal character traits. Rather, effective leaders are authentic: they deploy individual strengths to engage followers hearts, minds, and souls. Authentic leaders are skillful at consistently being themselves, even as they alter their behavior to respond effectively to changing contexts. In short, the authors present a powerful case: that it takes being yourself, in context, with skill” to be a successful, authentic leaderand they show you how to do exactly that.
In this lively and practical book, Goffee and Jones draw from extensive research to reveal how to hone and deploy your unique leadership assets while managing the inherent tensions at the heart of successful leadership: when to show emotion and when to withhold it, how to get close to followers while maintaining an appropriate role distance, and maintaining your individuality while conforming enough” to gain traction and lead change. Underscoring the inherently social nature of leadership, the book also explores how leaders can stay attuned to the needs and expectations of followers.
Why Should Anyone Be Led by You? will forever change how we view, develop, and practice the art of leadership, wherever we live and work.
Review
Over 150,000 copies sold worldwideA rewarding read if you want to lead.” Financial Times
About the Author
Rob Goffee is Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School, where he teaches on the world renowned Senior Executive Programme. An internationally respected teacher and facilitator, Rob has taught executives from some of the worlds leading companies, including Unilever, Nestlé, and Sonae. He also consults to the boards of a number of FTSE 100 companies. Gareth Jones is a Fellow of the Centre for Management Development at London Business School and a visiting professor at Spains IE Business School in Madrid.