Leader

The Engaging Leader is an intelligent and creative alternative to the masses of MBA style leadership tomes that we have all encountered.

Its focus is on two principal leadership types and the best approaches to refining these within an organizational context, filled with an always unique and diverse audience of employees. The book is helpful to the manager wishing to improve her performance as well as that of the company.

Replete with some cutting edge demographic and generational statistics, The Engaging Leader provides a potent refresher as to what an effective business leader needs to focus on in 2003 and going forward.

Sports fans will also be reloaded with great super bowl cocktail party fodder as Dr. Gubman highlights several sports analogies and offers his wisdom as to what many a coach should have done in the case of a losing record or amid other team related shenanigans. You will impress your friends with the knowledge and insights gathered from these passages.

Read on!

The Engaging Leader is an intelligent and creative alternative to the masses of MBA style leadership tombs that we have all encountered.

Its focus is on two principal leadership types and the best approaches to refining these within an organizational context, filled with an always unique and diverse audience of employees. The book is helpful to the manager wishing to improve her performance as well as that of the company.

Replete with some cutting edge demographic and generational statistics, The Engaging Leader provides a potent refresher as to what an effective business leader needs to focus on in 2003 and going forward.

Sports fans will also be reloaded with great super bowl cocktail party fodder as Dr. Gubman highlights several sports analogies and offers his wisdom as to what many a coach should have done in the case of a losing record or amid other team related shenanigans. You will impress your friends with the knowledge and insights gathered from these passages.

Read on!

I've been a human resources professional for over 20 years, and Ed's book is a relief from the academic tomes that fill the bookshelves. It's very approachable, makes the point in a very compelling way how critical great leadership is today, and finds an everyday way to show what leadership means and the difference it makes. The sports analogies are entertaining, and the summary 'huddles' at the end of each chapter are simple and down to earth. Applause.

Everything Not Horse is a unique book in the leadership field for two reasons - first, it is intended for young leaders who are just beginning to consider the issues surrounding leadership. Second, the book is structured in a story format, that follows four would-be leaders in midst of an actual project. By showing leadership in action, and how various people respond ( or don't respond) to the challenges of leadership, Rosser has created a memorable and effective way for students of all ages to re-think their leadership style. This is a useful book for aspiring leaders to read on their own, and also makes for great group discussions.

The charcters and examples in this book ring true, presenting common pitfalls and providing insight into the minds of leaders and those being led. It's a fun read and should help new and veteran leaders tap the potential of their leadership experience.

A good read with a number of very different characters. I liked Rip the best. I also enjoyed the variety of quotes throughout the book, especially the one from Toni Morrison. The beauty of the book is that the reader is able to extract lessons from the story and apply them to his or her own situation. The book makes the point that everyone is a leader at some point in their lives. Different people may take different lessons from this book, but there is something for everyone in this book.

In Western society we have excellent tools and models for dealing with the objective realities associated with money and resources: we have budgets, schedules, metrics, etc. But quite often, subjective realities play a more important role both in managerial decision making and performance evaluation. What tools do we have to effectively manage subjective realities like: what is the story through which I interpret actions my manager takes? what do I think my coworkers are up to? what did that statement/action just mean?

This book offers tools for managers (and employees!) to get real with the people they work with. These tools will help you develop a better understanding of the subjective realities people around you carry with them. It can help people on your team to communicate more clearly and effectively with you, their manager, and each other.

I quietly applied the techniques in this book and found that they were really useful in a recent situation with really difficult personalities. Frequent conflict existed between leads working for the same manager. It turns out that a large portion of the problem was the stories we interpreted each others actions through. To the extent we were able to clear up the untrue aspects of the "stories" ... which we seldom ever question ourselves about ... was the extent to which we were able to communicate clearly and develop cooperation.

This is a great book, worth twice this price. The entertaining yet useful anecdotes skillfully make his points more memorable, and make it easeir to explain his concepts to others.

Anyone interested in unraveling the mysteries of office toxicity, this is the book! Bushe masterfully ties together the psycho-social dynamics that make us all tick and offers sound strategies for creating clarity in our working relationships. Now here is the bonus! The book not only offers the keys to interpersonal clarity, it presents the ideas in language that anyone (toxified or not) can understand.

For those involved in leadership training that is principles or values focused, here you will find the all important missing link. Bushe explains the psychology behind our thinking and behavior which often times is the driving force behind office dysfunction despite our most noble principles and values.

I have read this book at least 4 times. I have sent this book to all the people who are important in my life. I have recommended this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in growing as a leader. Treat yourself and make this investment. In my case, it is the very best investment I have ever made. The book changed my thinking and then my behavior followed. This is from someone who has read all the leadership thoeries, seen many of the videos, listened to books on tape across country. Nothing has been as effective as this book. We will be hearing a lot more from Gervase Bushe in the future.

In today's corporate world, efficiency, effectiveness, and profit are diminished by communications problems. As a Certified Management Consultant, I hear clients complain about "communications" so much, I've dubbed it the "C Word."

What's the problem? People aren't real, open, honest, direct, and thorough in their conversations with each other. Hidden agendas, inability to say what you mean, fear of consequences and more problems contribute to the debilitating "mush" that inhibits organizational achievement. We've certainly seen enough evidence of the problem in the serious problems reported in the newspapers in recent months. And more corporate crises are in the works because the people at the top are not providing clear leadership-clear, "real" communication. And if the role models aren't working, the rest of the bureaucratic system is in trouble.

Bushe, a PhD consultant and professor of business administration, has given us a fine tool in "Clear Leadership." This is the kind of book that can be read and enjoyed, almost like a corporate novel. He communicates his message with a well-organized presentation supplemented by a wonderful collection of vignettes. The illustrative stories really bring this book to life, stimulate the thinking, and teach the lessons. As emotional beings, we all relate well to story-telling; this book has a good mix to help the reader get the message. I gained insight from the first two stories! Good stuff!

The author's objective is to teach the skills that build clarity and agreement. To quote from the book, "Clarity comes from clearing out the interpersonal mush and sometimes requires an organizational learning conversation. This is a conversation where people level with each other about their experience so that they can learn about anad change the troublesome patterns they find themselves in. Agreement comes from the ability of a group to think together and make decisions."

"Clear Leadership" is organized into three sections, plus a valuable introduction and an inspiring conclusion. Part One is Clarity and Mush in Organizational Life. Part Two, The Four Selves of Clear Leaders, has chapters on the Aware, Descriptive, Curious, and Appreciative aspects of the concept. Part Three, Clear Leadership at Work is filled with practical advice to putting this valuable concept into practice.

A lot of knowledge, insight, and advice packed into 250 pages. It's the kind of book you'll want to share with others-maybe simultaneously-to build clear leadership in your organization.

At some point in your career either in an organization or as an external consultant you are likely to be handed a "golden baton" and asked to facilitate or create change within the corporate culture. On one hand you may be delighted that the organization has seen the value in this sort of initiative and recognizes the need. On another hand you may be aware of the task at hand and wonder, "Does this organization really understand what it is asking for. Is it truly ready to make the necessary changes to create this 'said' desired outcome." If in fact you accept at this endeavor, ( and I choose this word lightly-as many are not asked but assigned to the undertaking) I recommend you read two useful resources. The first you are probably already familiar with, John Kotter's Leading Change; the second I will be sharing with you here, Barry Phegan's Developing Your Company Culture-The Joy of Leadership.

John Kotter's Leading Change is very useful as a pragmatic guide to the strategic steps necessary in creating change. Strategy, alone, cannot ensure cultural change. What Phegan does is put strategy in the context of what he calls the "Five Levels of Evolution, Culture, and Leadership." According to Phegan, there are five areas in organizational culture that require balance: physics, life, competition, language, and experience. In most companies the organizational cultures are strong in some areas, weak in others. In order to align a "cultural change" strategy in a way to create meaningful change, there must be leadership to balance out these areas.

5. Experience-feelings, trust, fear, caring, values, involvement, satisfactionThere is always experience, but in most organizations the quality of it is poor. You cannot get to this directly, only through actions at level 4.

4. Language-communications, listening, meaning, understanding, relationships, teamwork, consensus, win-winThis is the thinnest area in most organizational cultures. Communications, understanding, relationships, and teamwork are usually weak. +

3. Competition-economics, authority, control, politics, win-lose, rules, information, productivity, profits, decisionsAlthough not always discussed, openly, this level is overemphasized in most organizational cultures.

2. Life-systems and processes, biology, operational procedures and methods, training, software, efficiencyOperating systems are often poorly developed. There is usually plenty of room for process improvements. *

1. Physics-chemistry, equipment, hardware, engineering, technologyIn most organizations, this level is fine. It is easier to talk about equipment than the more productive areas of processes (2), or communications (4). The table below (page 53 of text) points to the fact that the largest opportunity to develop changes in the work culture lies in language-which has been broken down into communications, listening, meaning, understanding-basically relationship building. The next largest opportunity lies in tackling problems in processes and procedures.

While I am sure that this makes intuitive sense to you, the task becomes how to document and put together a means to actively measure the actions you are taking and how they affect the bottom line or the goals and objectives by which you are to be measured while leading this imitative. Phegan does not offer any solution to that dilemma. What he does, however, is offer a template to improve the areas that need the attention. The most effective strategy that Barry Phegan advocates is the use of an informal interview. He provides a template for an interview format that will allow organizational leaders to get clearer understanding of the framework of the organizations employees. It is from these "non-agenda-conversations"-not "fireside chats" relationships are built, the "true" picture of the existing culture can be drawn, and human beings can feel individual and valuable. This is where he claims you get the biggest return on your cultural change investment.

The book is full of information regarding group dynamics, the art of negotiating, and skillful tips to managers. What is somewhat discouraging is that after several pages of information, guidance, and helpful hints, he ends his book with a section called Reflections where he points out that "work cultures are very stable. Sometimes they would rather die than change." He outlines why managers resist employee involvement in cultural change initiatives. Perhaps the knowledge of why there is resistance is helpful, but he does not offer any solutions to this aspect of human management nature. He even encourages external consultants to work in teams, "culture consultants should always work as a team. Work cultures are simply too seductive."

As you go forward with the task at hand to lead or create cultural change, don't get discouraged. Remember, each positive conversation, change, meeting does have a ripple effect. Phegan encourages you as a cultural leader to look for "pockets of readiness" and to encourage them. Work and gain momentum with those who "get it" and allow the change to evolve over time. It cannot be forced.

As a teacher and practitioner of organization development I recently re-read this book and found it especially germane given today's acceleration of mergers, acquisitions, and pace of life in general. Work is more challenging yet less fulfilling than ever. Change sometimes seems to be expected if not immediately, then soon thereafter. The quick fix solution is sought all too often, typically in the form of a high profile "program" which does not adequately address underlying issues and therefore is doomed to failure. This includes culture, a label that in popular use has been hung on everything from common behavioral patterns to espoused new corporate values that senior management wishes to inculcate. The metaphor nevertheless has considerable relevance for developing organizations, particularly in regards change and change management. Language-including communications, understanding, relationships, and teamwork-is usually the weakest area in organizational cultures, particularly so with the increase in computer-mediated communication. Thus the book provides a critically needed counterpoint. For example, one of its practical tools, "the cultural interview," reveals common themes which provide the basis for discussion, thereby opening and directly developing the culture and enabling the possibility of people finding new meaning at work and life such that change actually can become welcome.

Teaching by clear and helpful examples is the strength of 'Developing your company culture'. Dr Phegan in less than 150 pages provides valuable insights on understanding the decision making process in corporate cultures, the nature of power sharing, the importance of feedback and the benefits of listening to each other. In terms of implementing consensus management and increasing productivity through creating friendly work environments his practical tips clearly come from someone who has "been there" and learned from his experience. I found this a very useful book for all levels of leadership from project management to CEO level. Highly readable with no fancy jargon. Peter Robinson, Editor "San Francisco Books and Travel."

As one of the women in this book I must say Alice has done very well telling our stories! I was the youngest in the book and was humbled after reading the other stories. I am now 18 and in college still trying hard to carry on the story. I hope all of you who have read this wonderful story become inspired to do something to help others!

When we read of famous women there is always a sense of their accomplishments being something beyond what ordinary women like most of us could possibly do. This book looks at the work done by ordinary women that has made a big difference in some way. It would be a perfect book to have in classrooms where teens and preteen girls could use it as an inspiration. But it is also an inspiration to women of any age.

Alice Hellstrom Anderson features a great variety of women both in terms of their ages and in what they have done to contribute to society. Each woman was personally interviewed by Anderson. You will find women concerned about the underprivileged, world peace, world health, and more in this book. It is a wonderful resource and a great way to get in touch with how ordinary women are making a difference.

You will be amazed at what these women have done, accomplished or experienced. Each story is inspiring and unique. A true display of how one person can in fact make a difference.

I felt this book was a valuable source of information. I needed a brief account on the necessary components on being a successful and effective team leader. This book led me from step to step on how to go about learning how to be a successful team manager. It included the basic know-how of team leadership, like being prepared and posing crucial questions to the team. However, it also went in-depth into the necessary skills needed in order to manage a goal-oriented group. I felt that this book not only acknowledged how to plan for a discussion, but it also looked at the real truth that can come up in group discussion. It analyzed the ins and outs of a group dynamic and even suggested ways of combating difficulties that arise in the process. The authors, Donald Hackett and Charles L. Martin, have a style of writing that is efficient, easy to grasp, and sensible. They were able to provide a step by step analysis on what it takes to be a valuable facilitator, but also the things that come up that leaders need to deal with carefully. Their topic ranges from the basic start of what a facilitator is to what skills a team leader needs. Then they consistently maintain this vision of how an effective leader can lead the group to a successful completion of the task. I enjoyed reading this book, because it not only opened my eyes to how I see leaders perform in groups I have been involved in, but I also know now how to be a successful facilitator in groups that I may choose to lead in the future. I can know use these suggestions and techniques to really drive a team into successful task completion. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has thought about leading a team in group discussion. The authors' simple, to the point style of writing, including examples and suggestions, made for a delightful read. I enjoyed reading this book as much I enjoyed learning from it as well.

A wonderful book for a person whose new to facilitating teams. The writing is in language that's very easy to understand, and the concepts are presented clearly. The book takes the reader on a step by step progression of the processes and tools required to help meetings be productive and efficient. Cudos to the authors, who created a wonderful and effective tool.

This excellent book provides a simple overview of the skills and tools needed when getting a group to work on a problem. Nothing is covered in depth, however I did not think that was the purpose. This books starts a learning process which people can take further if needed. The sytle is light and it has been written to maintain the readers interest. It adequately covers concepts, communication (questioning, body language, etc) and some simple tools with easy to understand examples. Most impressive was the straight forward treatment of writing a process map to identify and deal with problems.

Fight in the Fields - without a doubt, a story worthy of a thousand books. This book is simply a comprehensive history of the UFW. The struggle and the suffering must never be forgotten and continue today. A fantastic account of a imensely important movement.

Okay, I'm biased. I'm the author of a mystery novel in current release that features a Latino private investigator as the protagonist, and I've been teaching in a rural California high school with a student population over 98% Hispanic for over twenty years. This biography, loaded with photographs and facts, is perfect for today. It clearly proves what an exceptional man Cesar Chavez was and what exceptional accomplishments that man achieved. If you have any interest in the real America, you have to read this book.

This very personal history of the Cesar Chavez and the UFW is a comprehensive account of the farmworkers movement and the difficulties encountered in their fight for justice and fair treatment. Very well written and illustrated.

We have been teaching this course at our Episcopal church to an intergenerational group of about 25-30 ranging in ages from 10-77. This is a wonderful course and even if you aren't a Simpsons fan, the series really is an eye-opener.

The only small bone to pick is that they use some (two)episodes for viewing that are unavailable via tape or DVD and this requires you to tape it off of TV when it airs, if you know when that is. Also some of the videos are out of print, so E-bay was a big help.

But the response to the course has been tremendous. People are really amazed that a "wicked, evil" cartoon can be so enlightening! I would recommend this for any church considering it.

This was a VERY good book for any small group. Yay for Pastor Skip! :D

We started using the Gospel According to the Simpsons with our High School youth group and the response has been awesome. The episodes and questions provide an excellent way to engage the kids in discussions. I highly recommend using this series - although I also recommend sending home a letter to parents explaining what you're doing with the series.

I'm about halfway through this book, but just reading the first few chapters, I could have sworn I was reading an auto-biography of myself. His experiences are just so close to what I've experienced and hit hard to where I am coming from.

Every ethnicity has it's own issues and concerns that need addressing. Paul Tok really tackles this topic with a gusto and humility that make him very approachable. Even though he is Japanese American, his experiences mimic what most Asian Americans experience. From deferring to our parents to the ridiculous heights we hold education and prestige. He gives us perspective of how he deals with these issues along with dealing with other races.

While this book is geared towards Asian Americans, I HIGHLY recommend leaders of other ethnicities to read this book. It truly shines a light on some of the issues facing Asian Americans and can give insight in how to relate to us.

I had the pleasure of meeting Paul at Urbana 2003 during a workshop he gave on this very topic. Although I hadn't read his book at the time, (and I wish I did), he came across as someone who really wants to help and empathizes with the future leaders of this generation.

If you are a non Asian in an Asian church, this book will help you understand more. As an Asian American, Tokunaga's book has helped me understand the impact of my culture on why I act the way I do. Good practical advice as well. I can't believe some of the mistakes Tokunaga admitted to but I guess his point is that God can use any of us. On page 199, he says that our young people are leaving the church because the church is irrelevant, stifling and ill-equipped. I think that may be only true on the surface and perhaps the real reason is that our youth are prodigals, looking for boy/girl friends and freedom. The Bible study questions from Moses and Esther are very useful.

This book is a MUST read for all Asian Americans. Paul Tok's insight into Asian American culture and leadership styles is a great resource to anyone from pastors to lay church workers to people in a work setting. Highly recommended!

Ever wonder why North Korea is such a ... arrogant little country? This book will tell you exactly why. Guerrilla leaders scarred by years of eating rats, living in the hills, and butchering Japanese invaders do not necessarily possess the skills needed to run a country! This book is a must for anybody interested in the current standoff between America and Pyongyang, which North Korea seems to believe will end with the Korean peninsula being devoured by a sea of fire. Kim Il Sung's early days as a revolutionary and guerrilla fighter are given much attention, as are the purges he carried out in order to become the supreme leader. If you're looking for a play-by-play account of the Korean War, look elsewhere though- this book sweeps quickly through that period. The author focuses primarily on Kim's tight-rope act between the Soviet Union (which gave him the job in the first place), China (which saved his butt from the American-led U.N. forces), and the U.S. (which has refrained from crushing lil' Kim's summer camp of starvation in the name of East Asian harmony). Other topics addressed by the author include: Kim's frustration at not being acknowledged as the Emperor of the Third World, Kim's frustration at not being able to feed his population while spending 99.99% of his country's slight earnings on military hardware, Kim's frustration that the rest of the world didn't care much about the Korean problem (until now, of course), and Kim's frustration at not receiving a THIRD honorary degree from some university in Africa or Southeast Asia (naw, just kidding...but you get the point). The only complaint I have is this: the avalanche of names and details that sometimes disrupts the narrative. Perhaps a little too scholarly for anybody not specifically interested in the history of the North Korean Communist Party from 1946-1980's. Still, if you can get past this, the book is rewarding, and one will walk away knowing who Kim Il Sung was, how his son maneuvered into power, and why North Korea is a country with a Napoleonic complex.

This is essential for understanding North Korea and how it relates to the world of today. To undestand North Korea you must understand it's founder Kim Il Sung. The book goes on to show how he created a Stalinist State and huge army to insure it's survival. It talks about the many attempts on the lives of south korean presidents and his unpredictable nature that he passed on to his son and successor. Understandin Kin Il Sung will help the reader understand why Noth Korea is today run more like a cult than a country and why it is the most secretive country in the world today and a failed society.

In 2001 I visited North Korea and found this book very helpful because our guides would only give us the official version of their history. The book is packed full of information and the only one I have found that explains how Kim Il Sung gained and kept power. Dae-Sook Sue has put a great deal of reseach into the book and let's hope he writes another book on North Korea covering Kim Jong Il present reign and the future of the country. There is no other county like North Korea so I recommend reading the book then visiting the country.