The Leadership Challenge
By Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner
This book touches on many of the areas in which CEOs often overlook. From being more visible to more approachable, this book is a must read for any CEO looking to give their business and their leadership style a face lift. The leadership challenge discusses five actions or practices as being the keys to Exemplary Leadership:
Model the Way: living the life in which you want others to adopt (talk the talk and walk the walk)
Inspire a Shared Vision: people are inspired more by ideals in which they can get passionate about, more than fear or any reward
Challenge the Process: leaders flourish and grow through the most challenging situations. They’re innovators
Enable Others to Act: Encouragement alone is not enough. Leaders need to create an environment that enables people to feel comfortable in sharing and incorporating new ideas
Encourage the Heart: As previously mentioned, people are most productive when they’re passionate about the cause. Leaders need to enthusiastically engage their constitutes and spread the stories of success.
Embedded throughout these practices are, what Kouzes and Posner refer to as, the “Ten Commitments of Leadership”:
Find your voice by clarifying your personal values
Set the example by aligning actions with shared values
Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities
Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations
Search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, grow, and improve
Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from mistakes
Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust
Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion
Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence
Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community
These guidelines help to not only form the blueprints of leadership and business, but also to assist us all in living more successful lives. Therefore, this is a must read for anyone committed to bettering themselves as a leader for their company.
