Literature of Leadership - LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations (7th edition). James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner. (2023, Kindle Edition)

The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership that are the cornerstone of each edition of The Leadership Challenge are as relevant today as they were decades ago. In this 7th edition of The Leadership Challenge, the renowned authors, James Kouzes and Barry Posner, have revised and updated the content to focus on many of the leadership challenges that have been precipitated or accelerated by recent global events—from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the “Great Resignation” that followed, amid other cultural, social and political incidents—many of which have disrupted trust and confidence in institutions and their leaders.

In this new edition, the authors offer leadership insights and strategies on how to address such challenges as a new and heightened level of cynicism in the workforce, the shift toward hybrid work relationships, the dramatic increase in use of electronic technologies, to name a few. In addition, updates have been made to research related to the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), which has become one of the most widely used leadership assessment tools in the world, and is a core component of The Chair Academy’s Foundation program.

In Chapter 1, the authors discuss their views on effective leadership that is based on their most recent research related to the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership including—1. Model the Way, 2. Inspire a Shared Vision, 3. Challenge the Process, 4. Enable Others to Act, and 5. Encourage the Heart. The chapters which follow are organized around each of the Five Practices, as well as the essential behaviors/actions associated with each (referred to as the Ten Commitments of Leadership). Each chapter contains case examples of exemplary leadership and actionable suggestions for their application. In the closing Chapter 12, the authors present a call to action to make learning leadership a daily habit for ongoing success.

In effect, this book is a field guide for anyone wanting to strengthen their leadership effectiveness in addressing current day challenges. In the words of the authors, “Challenge is the crucible for leadership and the opportunity for greatness. Challenge shapes us, and challenge opens doors.” Regardless of whether you have read the earlier editions or not, the updated examples and content of this edition are well worth the read.

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