Customer Reviews

The Leadership Challenge

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am the CEO of a Fortune 500 company who read the original version of this book in the late 1980's. As the five criteria for leadership success discussed in this book, namely -- model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart -- have stood the test of decades of exploration and execution, the subtleties explored in this new edition are a welcome addition to my library of leadership books. I strongly recommend this book and additionally, wholeheartedly recommend Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self as a superlative universal resource for leadership and corporate optimization.

This is a book about bringing out the best in oneself and in the other people. A must read for anyone trying to achieve self-fulfillment and improve their impact on the world.

Most other books on this topic talk about well-known personalities, but this one focuses on the underlying leadership practices using examples of ordinary people as the leaders, in turn emphasizing that each one of us can choose to become a leader. Some books are for a sail-through reading while others are for digesting. "The Leadership Challenge" requires slow chewing and a deliberate assimilation of the teachings and research presented, for the new learnings to become an acquired habit or a second nature. My top-most learning is that leadership is not a place or a peak to be conquered, but rather a skill with which the journey through one's life can become far more fulfilling. The Leadership practices as presented are independent of one's position in an organization, and can be exercised at all levels.

It is about interactions, relationships and what one does to inspire others for uplifting their performance and efficiency. Similarly, it talks about practicing leadership skills in one's own personal life by credible communications, setting standards and expectations, and following fair means to achieve these. Leadership is indeed everyone's business, to seek continuous improvements and not become stagnant in one's life.

"The Leadership Challenge" book stands apart from others by giving examples of ordinary people who overcame their own adverse circumstances to make a differences to others around them. If everyone learns and practices the art of Leadership as presented, it will provide an inner fulfillment by realizing one's own full potential while improving the overall state of affairs in the world.

As other reviewers have commented; there is a ton of information in this book. I will add; tons of fantastic information! This is a book I have been reading sporadically for the past nine months. Why have I taken so long to read it? I will read it for a while, put it aside, read another book, then return to this one. It is profound. The only book on leadership better than this (maybe): Principle Centered Leadership.

The copy I read was the first edition. I've skimmed through this edition and found that the authors have added websites and other informative stuff to keep it up to date.

Each time I've returned to this book I wonder: why did I ever put it down? If you are a manager or an aspiring leader, like me...Read this one. You'll be glad you did. I know for a fact, this book is required reading for certain business majors.

I read the original book a few years ago and found the information very inspirational. I was happy to see the updated printing has chapters on corporate downsizing and covered the loss of jobs due to increased technology in the workplace. Now more than ever companies have to work smarter with fewer employees and this book has the insight on getting that job done. I also recommend reading Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey a great week-by-week guide to motivating employees.

I know that it's a cliche to call anything other than the Bible, a "Bible," but this is The Leadership Bible, nonetheless. If this is not in your library and a large part of your leadership journey, you are way way way behind the curve. Kouzes and Posner have been conducting some of the most significant leadership reasearch on the planet for over 20 years--and you'll find all that accumulated wisdom in this book.

Kouzes and Posner offer wonderful information but way, way too much of it. They should rewrite this book, chapter by chapter, making each chapter one book. I recently read "To Lead is to Empower" by Shar McBee, where she presents profound and useful information about leadership in a way that busy executives like me can use. Truth is simple.

"The leadership Challenge hits the top ten book category for leaders and managers at all levels. I continually use it with leaders and organizations in multiple countries"
- Bruce McNicol

Having read other leadership books, I disagree with the above statement. This book is pretty good, and do I like it for the work that has been put into this book. I think its for somebody who never read any other leadership books. But to say that its good for all level is wrong. This books attempts to tackle all kinds of issues. Starting from the basic foundation of trust.

He talks bout finding your value, sharing them, envision the future, and enlist others, blah blah. Not good for all levels, but perfect for beginning leaders.

CASE FOR: They cover a lot of important information missed in some other books. The leadership Challenge tackles some personal issues, which is very important. This is a very useful book; it's based on principles, and not on some philosophy/theory.

CASE AGAINST: 458 pages, I found myself skipping through pages. Something that could/should have been said in one sentence, was said in one page. Too many stories...

I read the original book a few years ago and found the information very inspirational. I was happy to see the updated printing has chapters on corporate downsizing and covered the loss of jobs due to increased technology in the workplace. Now more than ever companies have to work smarter with fewer employees and this book has the insight on getting that job done. I also recommend reading Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life.

The Leadership Challenge has been one of the "standard" texts for students of leadership in both business and academia since its First Edition arrival in 1987. The Third Edition is a totally new piece of work, building on the past, but, not surprisingly, with a unique perspective. Instead of just repackaging and updating references and stories, Kouzes and Posner have recrafted their work, incorporating new knowledge, providing a voice for a new generation of leaders, and at the same time validating their original and continuing research.

Noting that the content of leadership has not changed while the context has changed dramatically, they have re-ordered the five practices of exemplary leadership, moving from a descriptive to a prescriptive telling of the leadership tale. This is truly a "field guide for leaders" to help steer a journey of individual and organizational transformation.

Students have responded most positively, citing the grounded nature of the work, its readibility, and its challenge to see leadership development as personal development. Studying theories, exploring models, applying processes and looking at leadership only from the outside in isn't enough to comprehend what leadership is. Kouzes and Posner pull it all together, and richly articulate the need for self-knowledge and self-development as fundamental to what leadership can be.

If you've only got time to read one leadership book, this should be it. If you have already read either the First or the Second Edition (or both!), you will find the Third Edition to be familiar, but also totally new. The Leadership Challenge has withstood the test of time and now fuels unparalleled possibilities for the future.

As Jim Kouzes always says, "love 'em and lead 'em." About this book: "read it and love it." You owe it to yourself.

The Leadership Challenge has been one of the "standard" texts for students of leadership in both business and academia since its First Edition arrival in 1987. The Third Edition is a totally new piece of work, building on the past, but, not surprisingly, with a unique perspective. Instead of just repackaging and updating references and stories, Kouzes and Posner have recrafted their work, incorporating new knowledge, providing a voice for a new generation of leaders, and at the same time validating their original and continuing research.

Noting that the content of leadership has not changed while the context has changed dramatically, they have re-ordered the five practices of exemplary leadership, moving from a descriptive to a prescriptive telling of the leadership tale. This is truly a "field guide for leaders" to help steer a journey of individual and organizational transformation.

Students have responded most positively, citing the grounded nature of the work, its readibility, and its challenge to see leadership development as personal development. Studying theories, exploring models, applying processes and looking at leadership only from the outside in isn't enough to comprehend what leadership is. Kouzes and Posner pull it all together, and richly articulate the need for self-knowledge and self-development as fundamental to what leadership can be.

If you've only got time to read one leadership book, this should be it. If you have already read either the First or the Second Edition (or both!), you will find the Third Edition to be familiar, but also totally new. The Leadership Challenge has withstood the test of time and now fuels unparalleled possibilities for the future.

As Jim Kouzes always says, "love 'em and lead 'em." About this book: "read it and love it." You owe it to yourself.