WHAT MAKES A LEADER? CAN YOU REALLY LEARN TO LEAD?
You might believe that leaders are born, not made. Perhaps you think
that you need to hold an important job to be a leader--that you need
permission to lead. Leadership is one of the most important aspects of
our society. Yet there is enormous disagreement and confusion about what
leadership means and whether it can really be learned.
As leadership expert Robert Steven Kaplan explains in this powerful new
book, leadership qualities are not something you either have or you
don't. Leadership is not a destination or a state of being. Leadership
is about what you do, rather than who you are, and it starts with an
ownership mind-set. For Kaplan, learning to lead involves three key
elements:
- Thinking like an owner
- A willingness to act on your beliefs
- A relentless focus on adding value to others
Kaplan compellingly argues that great organizations are built around a
nucleus of people who think and act with an ownership mind-set. He
believes that leadership is not a role reserved only for those blessed
with the right attributes or situated in the right positions of power.
Leadership is accessible to each of us--today. It requires a process of
hard work, willingness to ask questions, and openness to learning.
This book aims to demystify leadership and outlines a specific regimen
that will empower you to build your leadership skills. Kaplan tells
real-life stories from his own experience of working with various types
of leaders seeking to improve their effectiveness and make their
organizations more successful. He asks probing questions, provides
exercises, and suggests concrete follow-up steps that will help you
develop your skills, create new habits, and move you toward reaching
your unique leadership potential.
What You Really Need to Lead will help you develop your capacity to
lead by unlocking your power to think and act like an owner.
