Inspire! What Great Leaders Do

by Lance H. K. Secretan

Book Overview

A top business consultant and speaker lights the path to a positive, productive work environment
What do the best leaders do to achieve greatness in the modern workplace that is muddled by fear, pressure for productivity, overwork? Inspire offers business leaders a clear vision of what a positive, productive, inspiring organization looks like in these challenging and chaotic times, and how to get there.
The key to extraordinary long-term...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471648825
• ISBN13: 9780471648826
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 233 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

What leadership is all about

This is the first thing I have ever read by this author, but INSPIRE: WHAT GREAT LEADERS DO by Lance Secretan will not be the last. This is leadership for the 21st century. I learned some new terminology here, such as "higher ground leadership" (leading by serving) and "old story leaders" (Jack Welch types who rule with an iron fist and focus solely on the bottom line). Much of the focus here is on expanding the mission statement. By that I mean, Secretan teaches creating 3 separate statements; destiny, cause and calling. Call it what you want, but the truth is, we all need something to guide us and maintain our focus. As Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up someplace else." I particularly liked the content here about how convoluted and unproductive (and uninspiring) corporate mission statements tend to be. They are all pretty much the same; main focus being a few patronizing remarks to attract shareholders, a quick statement about teamwork, and just for good measure, something about how important our customers are. There's just not a lot there to inspire anyone. I have long maintained, if your corporate mission focuses on building customer loyalty, your employees will perform better, your NOI will go up and your shareholders will be happy. Use your financial statements and analytical tools to attract shareholders, not your mission statement. Anyone would benefit and learn from this magnificent work, but CEO's in particular. Unfortunately, the smattering of existential eastern philosophy will turn off many CEO's. Let that be their loss, not yours. Read this book.

Review of "Inspire..."

Within 5 pages of beginning my reading of "Inspire...", I was enthralled. Lance writes so eloquently and powerfully of a way of being in corporate life (and life in general) and how each of us can impact positive change as leaders in our individualized way. Want to make a greater difference in your life's circle? Read, read, read this book!

Great Coaching Resource

I bought the book several weeks ago after coming across your web site and boy is it powerful. I am a business coach and am beginning to use your book as a reference for my clients. I particularly like it because I take people through a process that leads them to their purpose and now of course we talk about not only their values but what they stand for(their principles) and how they "are" their purpose, and then what they will do. They love your web site and book. So thank you very much.

The Body as a Corporatopn

Tremendous book, I was overwhelmed ( in a wonderful way) by the way the words spoke so directly to my heart and soul. The frequency relationship was direct. I have read the book three times and still feel an energetic response when I think of the applicability to everything that I do. Although Lance is referring to the business or corporate entity, I see the human being as its own grand corporation, with departments/divisions in the respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, skeletal etc. departments. The human being as the microcosm, actually the atom within every cell of the body being the microcosm to the human body, with the family unit, however it is defined to the next step outward. The family unit is the microcosm to the extended family and friends community, this community is the microcosm to the geographic community. The ultimate macrocosm being the universe. All of these aspects of the corporation ( the body) need higher ground leadership. Each cell in our body has a destiny, cause and calling, each grouping of cells, say for example the muscular system has a destiny, cause and calling. All these need to be in alignment with the grander destiny, cause and calling of the person. This is how we actually align and achieve happiness, health and grace in life. The second and third reading were much more self analytical and I was so inspired by Lance's ability to articulate the meaning and purpose of life. I could go on and on here, I feel this in every cell of my body.

Secretan inspires!

Understanding the difference between "motivation" and "inspiration" can lead to a dramatic breakthrough for anyone in any kind of leadership role. After reading Secretan's beautiful, yet practical book on the subject, I know I'll never be the same. Despite all the training, seminars, mentoring, and observation of great leaders, I didn't know the difference and I suspect most CEO's don't either.It turns out motivation is usually based on fear and is self centred. Inspiration is other centred and based on love.I read the book on the suggestion of a very successful CEO I work with and immediately began to notice the impact Secretan has had on his leadership style, and effectiveness.I'm now looking forward to similar results.If you are in any kind of leadership role, or aspire to be, read this book.