CEO Blog - Time Leadership

Little Book of Leadership Development Review

First an errata. I wrongly gave credit to the procrastination log yesterday to the wrong author (perhaps I read too many time management books). The audio program I as listening to was The Now Habit - A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play.

I like reading but I also like short books. Perhaps that is why my Time Management book is only 77 pages (or perhaps it is because it is more efficient to only write 77 pages).

So I liked "The Little Book of Leadership Development - 50 Ways to Bring Out the Leader in Every Employee" by Scott Allen and Mitchell Kusy. Long title but concise book. Like the title that says exactly what the book is about, each chapter does the same thing. In one or two pages a leadership concept is presented and expanded on.

I like that there are 50 ideas to choose from. When I lead seminar, my goal is to have people come away with 2-3 things they can incorporate in their lives. This book can be used the same way. Choose a few ideas and use them.

One example chapter is "Switch it Up". Changing assignments within a team can inspire and motivate. It helps for team members to have familiarity with other parts of the job. It can not only increases skill (which can be motivational on its own), it increases organizational understanding. And swapping tasks helps keep the team "fresh" and challenged.

It can be a "different set of eyes" on a challenge.

Other chapters include things like "Remain focused on Solutions - Not Barriers", "Create Teachers and Leaders", "Ask Tough Questions (and I would add easy ones also - just asking can promote positive action)", "Coach for Performance" and "Hold standing one on ones" and 44 other topics.

It is a great book for any leader.

posted by Jim Estill @ 5:38 PM