Bootstrap Leadership

Foreword

WE’LL KNOW IT when we see it. This line has been used by teachers on the lookout for a good paper, by friends trying to find the right gift, and by followers in search of good leaders. Most of us know intuitively what good leaders look, talk, and feel like. They inspire us with their vision. They motivate us with their call to action. They care for us by their words and deeds. They develop us by their confidence. They relate to us through their values.

Yet leaders don’t just magically succeed. They need to combine certain foundational elements with the passion and discipline of continuous improvement. Yes, they need the building block skills, but they also need to keep learning, growing, and developing. That’s the formula for success, ...