A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST-SELLING BOOK
NAMED BY THE WASHINGTON POST AS ONE OF THE 11 LEADERSHIP BOOKS TO
READ IN 2018
Radical Inclusion: What the Post-9/11 World Should Have Taught Us About
Leadership examines today's leadership landscape and describes the
change it demands of leaders. Dempsey and Brafman persuasively explain
that today's leaders are in competition for the trust and confidence of
those they lead more than ever before. They assert that the nature of
power is changing and should not be measured by degree of control alone.
They offer principles for adaptation and bring them to life with
examples from business, academia, government, and the military.
In building their argument, Dempsey and Brafman introduce several
concepts that illuminate both the vulnerability and the opportunity in
leading today:
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Radical Inclusion. Fear of losing control in our fast-paced, complex,
highly scrutinized environment is pushing us toward exclusion―exactly
the wrong direction. Leaders should instead develop an instinct for
inclusion. The word "radical" emphasizes the urgency of doing so.
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The Era of the Digital Echo. The speed and accessibility of
information create "digital echoes" that make facts vulnerable,
eroding the trust between leader and follower.
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Relinquishing Control to Preserve Power. Power and control once went
hand in hand, but no longer. In today's environment, control is
seductive but unlikely to produce optimum, affordable, sustainable
solutions. Leaders must relinquish and share control to build and
preserve power.
The principles discussed in Radical Inclusion are memorable and the book
is full of engaging stories. From a young vegan's confrontation with
opponents in Berkeley to a young lieutenant's surprising visitor during
the Cold War, from a reflection on the significance of Burning Man to a
discussion of challenges faced in the Situation Room, Radical Inclusion
will provide you with leadership tools to address real leadership
challenges.
