The Leadership Challenge, James Kouzes and Barry Posner

Five Practices
1. Model the way
2. Inspire a shared vision
3. Challenge the process
4. Enable others to act
5. Encourage the heart

Truth 1 – Leadership development begins with self development
a. Who are you?
b. Spend time on values of organization, vision

Truth 2 – You can’t do it alone

Define leadership:
a. Leader because people are willing to follow
b. Leadership is a relationship, it is about us.
• #1 – Relationships with subordinates
• People don’t quit their organizations, they quit their managers.
• People stay because they value their organization

Truth 3 – The foundation of leadership is credibility
a. Honest
b. Forward looking
c. Inspiring
d. Competent

Truth 4 – You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all.
• Truth being forward-looking most differentiates leaders.
• Where are we going?
• Vision trumps everything
• “Leadership is the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations.” Kouzes & Posner

I think Kouzes & Posner have it right!

Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2007) The leadership challenge. San Francisco, CA. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

John Hope Bryant, in his new book, “Love Leadership” takes the message to a level about opening the heart further. In today’s workplace our leaders and managers would do well by reflecting on the wisdom in his words:

“Five laws of love-based leadership
1.Loss creates leaders: There can be no inner growth without the pain of legitimate suffering.
2. Fear fails: Leading through fear is antiquated and self-defeating, a crippling indulgence that we can no longer afford.
3. Love makes money: The expression of love in business – creating long-term relationships with customers and employees based on caring for others and doing good-makes everyone wealthy.
4. Vulnerability is power: When you open up, people open up to you. Real leaders know that vulnerability is not a weakness, but rather their greatest strength.
5. Giving is getting: Leaders give, followers take. Give inspires mind, and lies at the core of true wealth.
 
Bryant, J. (2009). Love Leadership. San Francisco, CA. Jossey-Bass.