The one-sentence summary

Successful leaders will take on risk, change and ambiguity.

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WHAT THE BOOK SAYSHOW TO LEAD

  • This book contains all the important stuff about leading well: motivating people, building networks, selling ideas, influencing people, giving feedback, evaluating people, and learning to be lucky
  • It takes you through the foundations, practice and mastering of leadership, and makes the point that leaders aren’t necessarily at the top of organisations
  • The main qualities fall into focusing on people, being positive, and being professional (that means having loyalty, honesty, reliability, solutions, and energy)
  • Leading from the middle involves finding your way through the matrix. Those who fall by the way are:
    1. the expert (technically competent, but that’s all)
    2. cave dweller (territorial)
    3. politician (political)
    4. boy scout (naïve)
    5. autocrat (acts as though they already are a leader)

WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT

  • A survey of 1,000 leaders reveals the qualities they look for in emerging leaders:
    • adaptability, self-confidence, proactivity, reliability, and ambition
  • Luck is normally down to practice, persistence, and perspective
  • There are good quotes to be had here:
    • “ Many sins are forgivable, but disloyalty is not one of them.”
    • “An organisation full of Ghengis Khan wannabes is unlikely to be a happy place.”
    • “It is possible to learn leadership. If you know how to, you are well on the way to success.”
    • “The successful leader will take on risk, change and ambiguity.”
  • There is an interesting checklist of what people want from a good boss:
    1. Shows an interest in my career
    2. I trust them – they are honest with me
    3. I know where we are going and how to get there
    4. I am doing a worthwhile job
    5. I am recognized for my contribution

WHAT YOU HAVE TO WATCH

  • Not much. This is a well-organised and thoughtful book on leadership

MORE DETAIL

  • A survey of 1,000 leaders reveals the qualities great leaders need: 3 Ps leading to a fourth:
    • People focus
    • Positivity
    • Professionalism…leading to Performance.
  • He distinguishes between emerging leaders, leading from the middle, and those at the top.
  • Leadership foundations
    • Find the right boss; always deliver; no surprises; ditch the excuses; adapt your style; have an alternative; learn; do what is right; size the prize; understand costs and risks of decisions; follow strategy and values; build consensus; flip a coin – don’t hide, decide; motivate; set direction; communicate; fight the right battles
  • Towards leadership mastery
    • Start at the end; take responsibility; raise the bar; drive to action; act the part; keep on learning; set expectations; have a plan; shape your team; set your style; protect your territory; deliver results; craft an agenda
  • Ineffective leadership behaviours
    • Ego; no emotional quotient; focus solely on expertise; naïve about networks; hires weak clones; threatened by talent; poor delegation; problem focused; can’t do approach; retreats into comfort zone; political; keen on status.