How the world’s best companies develop complete leaders
Authors David L Dolitch, Peter C Cairo and Stephen H Rhinesmith
Price £18.99
From Wiley
Contact www.wiley.com
ISBN 0787964794
The authors’ introduction to this guide to leadership qualities may make your toes curl – “We find that many business leaders today are in the same situation as the scarecrow, the tin man or the lion… This book will help move you down the yellow brick road of leadership understanding”. Oh dear.
This winsome imagery is a shame because as the book gathers momentum, it also grows in credibility.
For example, the authors have penned a terrific chapter on balancing people needs with business requirements, which tackles work-life balance issues in an honest fashion. And they offer a great chapter entitled ‘Taking risks with Little or No Data’, which illustrates how to identify previous experiences masquerading as facts.
I also enjoyed the references in this book – it weaves together all the latest thinking on emotional intelligence, how to change perspective and what corporate athleticism means, in an unobtrusive manner.
The book is said to be aimed at helping leaders “take risks all the time”. I’m not sure about this, but as I feel that it is about finding one’s identity it could be a helpful read for the newly promoted or as part of a coaching session.
Useful? 3 out of 5
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Well-written? 3 out of 5
Value for money? 3 out of 5
