The Leadership Challenge - by Kousez and Posner
The Leadership Challenge is a book written by James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner, and focuses on the theme that "Leadership is Everyone’s Business." The authors identify "five practices" and "ten commitments" that dedicated and successful leaders exemplify. It is about leading in an authentic way and engaging others in the process.
If you are interested in reading more, here is a link to the book: http://www.leadershipchallenge.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-131209.html.
Leadership in Action
Kousez and Posner write:
"The Leadership Challenge is about how leaders mobilize others to want to get extraordinary things done in organizations. It's about the practices leaders use to transform values into actions, visions into realities, obstacles into innovations, separateness into solidarity, and risks into rewards. It's about leadership that creates the climate in which people turn challenging opportunities into remarkable success."
The Five Practices of Leadership
- Model the Way
- Inspire a Shared Vision
- Challenge the Process
- Enable Others to Act
- Encourage the Heart
The Ten Commitments of Leadership
- Find your voice by clarifying you personal values.
- Set the example by aligning actions with shared values.
- Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling activities.
- Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations.
- Search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, grow and improve.
- Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from mistakes.
- Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.
- Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion.
- Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence.
- Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community.
- Practices and Commitments
Here's the commitments mapped to the practices:
Model the Way
- Find your voice by clarifying you personal values.
- Set the example by aligning actions with shared values.
Inspire a Shared Vision
- Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling activities.
- Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations.
Challenge the Process
- Search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, grow and improve.
- Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from mistakes.
Enable Others to Act
- Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.
- Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion.
Encourage the Heart
- Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence.
- Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community.
