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What does it take to be a great leader? Are leaders born or is it a learned behaviour? NLP Practitioners (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) suggest that if you can think it and act it you will become it. (Fake it until you make it.) On the other hand Peter F. Drucker, considered by many to be the leading authority on management and leadership, would have you believe that leaders are born not made. I'm not sure I'd buy into that one.
I believe people can change. I believe good results come from good habits just as I believe bad results come from bad habits. If you change the habit you will change the result. Most adults are capable of creating new habits. Think of a leader that you admire. What quality do you admire most about that leader? If we study the leaders we admire and we are able to start to think like them and act like them, then we will become like them.
We aren't born great listeners. (We can learn to be.) We aren't born great public speakers. (We can learn to be.) We aren't born great leaders. (We can learn to be.) All the great leaders of our time, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Pierre Trudeau, and Ronald Regan had a certain style. All unique; all different. Their style suited the times they where in. I think great leaders are great at adapting to the needs around them. I think great leaders are great at managing change and coaching people through that change.
The Editors of this book, Frances Hesselbein and Rob Johnson have assembled some great articles and interviews by recognized experts in the field of "change". They share their views on how to prepare for change, how to seek new perspectives, and how to broaden participation throughout an organization and the role the leader plays in that change.
Time is important to me. I tend to read books that are short on pages but long on content. At just 152 pages and retailing for $27.50 Canadian, I found this book delivered on both counts. I specially enjoyed reading the interview Robert Shaw had with William C. Steere Jr., former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Pfizer Inc. Mr. Steere spoke about sustaining growth. Pfizer, the global pharmaceutical heavy weight is best noted for its launch of Celebrex (arthritis), Viagra (enough said), and Lipitor (cholesterol). Talk about a company who has positioned themselves well for the future. Remember the words of Donald H. McGannon; "Leadership is action, not position." I hope you enjoy the read.
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