The Inner Work of Leaders: Leadership as a Habit of Mind

by Gary Wenet and Barbara Mackoff

Book Overview

This text focuses on inner work - the process of translating past relationships and experiences into habits of mind. With more than 50 interviews with leaders, giving a behind-the-scenes study, this... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814405908
• ISBN13: 9780814405901
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Amacom
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

What's in There?

According to the authors, the title refers to five thought patterns which are central to the success of any leader: the capacity to examine and appraise their own behavior and impact on others; the strategy of interpreting negative events with a resilient inner narrative and response; the practice of setting aide false assumptions, reversing roles, and learning from everyone in the organization; the ability to trust, value, and speak from their own experience; and finally, the craft of counterpoint, that is, restoring perspective and renewing resources. "This book is for people who are in charge of an organization and for those who want to be. We hope that each of you will recognize your experiences in learning to lead. Whether you are a leader or a leader-to-be, this book demonstrates how to draw upon your life's rich legacy [ie the family template, the world as teacher, and the moments of meaning] and to turn the challenges in your work into opportunities for leadership." The authors organize their excellent material within two Parts: The Legacy of Leaders, and, Habits of Mind: The Resources to Inform and Invigorate Leadership. They interviewed 65 leaders inorder to understand how relationships and experiences in each leader's past influenced her or his experience of meeting the challenges of being in charge. Responses varied of course, sometimes dramatically, but all of the leaders seem to share most (if not all) of the aforementioned five thought patterns. I was fascinated to learn (a) how each leader drew upon inner resources, (b) what the results were, and (c) what each leader learned from the process.Although Mackoff and Wenet suggest that their book was written for leaders and leaders-to-be, I think it will also be valuable for everyone else within an organization who now claims to have no ambition to become one. Perhaps, after reading this thoughtful and practical book, at least some of them will reconsider their career objectives. I sincerelky hope many do. All organizations need effective leadership at all levels. FYI, Tichy and Cohen discuss this specific need in The Leadership Engine. I also highly recommend O'Toole's Leadership A to Z.Mackoff and Wenet conclude with one of my favorite quotations from the works of Soren Kierkegaard: "Life is understood backward, but lived forward." The inner work of leaders is to learn from what has already been experienced so that such knowledge can be applied to whatever has yet to be accomplished. This book is not only about leading effectively...it is also about living fully, guided and informed by wisdom.

About a leader

This exiting book contains 65 characters in the Todays BIG World. There are lots of things to learn from these 65 characters selected specially. To read this guide book about the leaders of the BIG World will enlarge your view in all kind of your relation.