HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to see it in a web browser. A Proven Recipe for Leadership HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership Are you a great leader or merely a good one? Becoming a great leader doesn't happen overnight. If you want to be a more effective leader, you need to work at it. This collection of ten classic Harvard Business Review articles will help you do just that. This special collection brings you keen insight from world-class experts on what makes great leaders. Even better, you'll learn the techniques that can turn high performance leadership from a career objective into an invaluable addition to your management toolkit. You'll learn how to: Inspire your team to follow you by capturing their hearts and minds Find meaning in—and refine your skills from—challenging situations Ask the tough questions and leverage the intelligence of your team Transform yourself from a good manager into an extraordinary leader Master the five essential skills that will maximize your own and your team's performance Save more than 60% off the price of the individual articles when you buy this collection. All 10 articles on leadership are yours for only $24.95!* ORDER NOW Only $24.95* Product #12546 Ebook/PDF or Paperback This specially priced collection includes: What Makes a Leader? by Daniel Goleman When asked to define the ideal leader, many would emphasize traits such as intelligence, toughness, determination, and vision—the qualities traditionally associated with leadership. Often left off the list are softer, more personal qualities—but they are also essential. Although a certain degree of analytical and technical skill is a minimum requirement for success, studies indicate that emotional intelligence may be the key attribute that distinguishes outstanding performers from those who are merely adequate. What Leaders Really Do by John P. Kotter Most U.S. corporations today are overmanaged and underled. They need to develop their capacity to exercise leadership. Successful corporations don't wait for leaders to come along. They actively seek out people with leadership potential and expose them to career experiences designed to develop that potential. The Work of Leadership by Ronald A. Heifetz and Donald K. Laurie More and more companies today are facing adaptive challenges: Changes in societies, markets, and technologies around the globe constantly force businesses to clarify their values, develop new strategies, and learn new ways to operate. The most important task for leaders in the face of such challenges is mobilizing people throughout their organizations to do adaptive work. This HBR article offers six principles for leading adaptive work. Why Should Anyone Be Led by You? by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones We all know that leaders need vision and energy, but after an exhaustive review of the most influential theories on leadership—as well as workshops with leaders and aspiring leaders—the authors learned that great leaders also share four unexpected qualities. Crucibles of Leadership by Warren G. Bennis and Robert J. Thomas What makes a great leader? Why do some people appear to know instinctively how to inspire employees—bringing out their confidence, loyalty, and dedication—whereas others flounder again and again? No simple formula can explain how great leaders come to be, but Bennis and Thomas believe it has something to do with the ways people handle adversity. The authors' research suggests that one of the most reliable indicators and predictors of true leadership is the ability to learn from even the most negative experiences. What Makes an Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker An effective executive does not need to be a leader in the typical sense of the word. Peter Drucker, the author of more than two dozen HBR articles, says some of the best CEOs he has worked with over his 65-year consulting career were not stereotypical leaders. Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve by Jim Collins The essential ingredient for taking a company to greatness is having a "Level 5" leader, an executive whose extreme personal humility blends paradoxically with intense professional will. In this article, Collins paints a compelling and counterintuitive portrait of the skills and personality traits necessary for effective leadership. Seven Transformations of Leadership by David Rooke and William R. Torbert Relatively few leaders try to understand their "action logic"—how a leader interprets his surroundings and reacts when his power or safety is challenged—and fewer still have explored the possibility of changing it. They should, because leaders who undertake this voyage of personal understanding and development can transform not only their own capabilities but also those of their companies. Discovering Your Authentic Leadership by William W. George, Peter Sims, Andrew N. McLean, David Mayer, and Diana Mayer The authors interviewed 125 business leaders from different racial, religious, national, and socioeconomic backgrounds to understand how leaders become, and remain, authentic. Their interviews showed that you do not have to be born with any particular characteristics or traits to lead. You also do not have to be at the top of your organization. Anyone can learn to be an authentic leader. The journey begins with understanding your life story. In Praise of the Incomplete Leader by Deborah Ancona, Thomas W. Malone, Wanda J. Orlikowski, and Peter M. Senge Those at the top must come to understand their weaknesses. Only by embracing the ways in which they are incomplete can leaders fill in the gaps in their knowledge with others' skills. The incomplete leader has the confidence and humility to recognize unique talents and perspectives throughout the organization—and to let those qualities shine. View More Titles in the Series » To order by phone, call us toll-free at 800-668-6780 and mention referral code 02480. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call +1-617-783-7450. * Purchasers are responsible for all shipping charges, duties, taxes, brokerage fees, and/or import fees imposed by the country of import. Please check with your customs office for details. If you do not wish to receive special offer email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. 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