The Truth About Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts you Need to Know

The Truth About Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts you Need to Know

by James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner
Released August 2010
Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9780470633540

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Book description

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.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Introduction: What Everyone Wants to Know About Leadership
    1. EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT LEADERSHIP
    2. TEN TRUTHS ABOUT LEADERSHIP
    3. YOU MATTER
  3. 1. TRUTH ONE: YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE
    1. 1.1. WHATEVER YOU NEED YOU ALREADY HAVE
    2. 1.2. LEADER ROLE MODELS ARE LOCAL
    3. 1.3. YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT LEADER
  4. 2. TRUTH TWO: CREDIBILITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF LEADERSHIP
    1. 2.1. CONSTITUENTS HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR LEADERS
    2. 2.2. CREDIBILITY TIES IT ALL TOGETHER
    3. 2.3. CREDIBILITY MATTERS
    4. 2.4. BELIEVE IT WHEN YOU SEE IT
  5. 3. TRUTH THREE: VALUES DRIVE COMMITMENT
    1. 3.1. LISTEN TO YOUR INNER SELF
    2. 3.2. YOU COMMIT TO WHAT FITS
    3. 3.3. DISCOVER WHAT MATTERS
    4. 3.4. IT'S NOT JUST YOUR VALUES
  6. 4. TRUTH FOUR: FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE SETS LEADERS APART
    1. 4.1. LEADERS LOOK LONG-TERM
    2. 4.2. YOU HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME IN THE FUTURE
    3. 4.3. INSIGHT: EXPLORE YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE
    4. 4.4. OUTSIGHT: IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
    5. 4.5. FORESIGHT: BE OPTIMISTIC
  7. 5. TRUTH FIVE: YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE
    1. 5.1. YOU HAVE TO MAKE A HUMAN CONNECTION
    2. 5.2. YOU HAVE TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
    3. 5.3. UNITE PEOPLE AROUND A SHARED VISION
    4. 5.4. MAKE OTHERS FEEL STRONG AND CAPABLE
    5. 5.5. BRING IT OUT OF OTHERS
  8. 6. TRUTH SIX: TRUST RULES
    1. 6.1. INCREASE YOUR TRUST, INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE
    2. 6.2. YOU HAVE TO ANTE UP FIRST
    3. 6.3. YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN BE TRUSTED
    4. 6.4. COMMUNICATE WITH A NEED-TO-SHARE MENTALITY
  9. 7. TRUTH SEVEN: CHALLENGE IS THE CRUCIBLE FOR GREATNESS
    1. 7.1. BRICK WALLS TEST COMMITMENT
    2. 7.2. STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE
    3. 7.3. GET GRITTY
    4. 7.4. FAILING IS LEARNING
  10. 8. TRUTH EIGHT: YOU EITHER LEAD BY EXAMPLE OR YOU DON'T LEAD AT ALL
    1. 8.1. SEEING IS BELIEVING
    2. 8.2. LEADERS GO FIRST
    3. 8.3. ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES
  11. 9. TRUTH NINE: THE BEST LEADERS ARE THE BEST LEARNERS
    1. 9.1. LEARNING IS THE MASTER SKILL
    2. 9.2. ADOPT A GROWTH MINDSET
    3. 9.3. DELIBERATE PRACTICE IS REQUIRED
    4. 9.4. SUPPORT HELPS
  12. 10. TRUTH TEN: LEADERSHIP IS AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART
    1. 10.1. LOVE IS THE SOUL OF LEADERSHIP
    2. 10.2. SHOW THEM THAT YOU CARE
    3. 10.3. FALL IN LOVE WITH WHAT YOU DO
    4. 10.4. PROMOTE THE POSITIVE
  13. EPILOGUE: LEADERS SAY YES
    1. 10.5. REMINDERS ABOUT THE TRUTHS
    2. 10.6. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE
  14. ABOUT THE AUTHORS
  15. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  16. NOTES

Product information

  • Title: The Truth About Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts you Need to Know
  • Author(s): James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner
  • Release date: August 2010
  • Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
  • ISBN: 9780470633540