The Taboos of Leadership

Beschreibung

Most leaders who make it to the top possess characteristics thatare all too human: they have politically incorrect attitudes, areconflicted, and play politics to get their way. Written by leadingmanagement consultant Anthony F. Smith, The Taboos ofLeadership reveals the rarely discussed realities ofleadership--the secrets that leaders just cannot admit topublicly for fear of losing power, self-respect, or even theirjobs. This revelatory book will help both leaders and followersachieve real understanding and co-create a two-way street cultureof openness, trust, and improved performance in theirorganizations. The Taboos of Leadership discloses ten guarded secretsthat leaders can't discuss, even with their closestconstituents, including: charisma shouldn't make adifference. but it does; women make better leaders. whenthat's what they really want to do; blatant self-interest isdangerous. in followers, not leaders; thou shalt not playfavorites with friends and family. except when it makes a lotof sense; and more.

Autor*in

Anthony F. Smith

Themen in »The Taboos of Leadership«

Business & Management Führung Management / Leadership Management f. Führungskräfte Wirtschaft u. Management

Stimmen zu »The Taboos of Leadership«

In this emperor-has-no-clothes exposé, Smith attempts to getinto the heads of the powerful, reveal what goes on there anddevelop strategies for the inferiors who must cope with them. Themanaging director of the Leadership Research Institute, Smithdissects various leadership qualities-looking at heads of business,the military and politics, among others-as well as the way they'reperceived by followers, employees and the general public. Theinnate hypocrisy of the human drive to power--"leadership isrooted in the urges of blatant self-interest"--creates atension between leaders' public and private feelings; Smith positsthat, though leaders' responsibility is to the team, they mustprotect their own power with "tough, hard, ruthless, and overtlypolitical act[s]." This results, all too often, in "taboos" such asdouble standards, isolation and favoritism, all of which underlingsfind difficult, if not impossible, to address openly. The topicsconsidered are many, including the difference charisma makes, theeffect of gender, the successor-grooming game and the pursuit of abalanced lifestyle; the message, ultimately, is to speak up andlook out.(May) (PublishersWeekly.com) ". a useful call for leadership advocates to balance theirnatural optimism with realism." (Harvard Business Review,May 29, 2007)"Leadership is a much-discussed but little-understood concept. TonySmith calls on a lifetime of research and experience in the fieldto take the discussion in a refreshing new direction. By focusingon the importance of two-way communication and understanding, Tonydelivers a deeper, richer picture of leadership and a road map forimproving the performance of any organization." --Paul Tagliabue, commissioner, National Football League(retired) "By examining the role of leadership as a psychoanalyst would atroubled patient, Dr. Anthony Smith not only uncovers the rootcauses of rampant disorders in the postmodern corporate world, healso prescribes a series of groundbreaking changes that are at oncebrilliant and startling. Nothing is sacred in this book. Myths areexploded, taboos are broken, and the result is a revelation ofcommon sense long barred from the boardroom." --Mark Shapiro, president and CEO, Six Flags, Inc. "Tony Smith is a keen observer who gets to the heart ofleadership challenges and approaches. I especially appreciate thatsomeone with his insight also has the courage to reveal the truthof leadership in this refreshing book." --George Bodenhiemer, president, ESPN and ABC Sports;co-chairman, Disney Media Networks "This may be the most realistic book on leadership todate." --Larry Probst III, CEO, Electronic Arts
()

Details

Link teilen