The Leadership Challenge: How to Keep Getting Extraordinary Things Done in Organizations (The Leadership Practices Inventory) - Hardcover

"At a time when words like ′inspiration′ or ′spirit′ are sometimes used with embarrassment, the authors restore those lofty concepts to their rightful place at the core of successful business.′′ (Norman Lear, chairman and CEO, Act III Communications)

"A vital resource for all leaders and managers preparing themselves for the demands of 21st century leadership." (Kathryn E. Johnson, president and CEO, The Healthcare Forum)

"I not only enjoyed it... found myself constantly nodding and saying to myself, ′That′s right! That′s how it′s done! That′s what it feels like!′ You certainly captured the essence of what I′ve found is at the heart of transforming leadership.′′ (Robert Haas, chairman and CEO, Levi Strauss & Co.)

"The Leadership Challenge changed the direction of Motorola Semiconductor′s World Marketing Organization." (Charles E. Thompson, senior vice president, director world marketing, Semiconductor Products Sector, Motorola Inc.)

"Kouzes and Posner demonstrate that when ordinary business people aspire to extraordinary achievements they can expand the realm of what′s possible.′′ (Kathy Meyer, executive director, The Business Enterprise Trust)

"The Leadership Challenge is a book that should be read and worked through by every member of every organization. It makes real and accessible the practices of leadership. If it is not in the workplace of all your people you are missing the plot." (David Clancy, manager, Culture Development, Westpac Banking Corporation)

"This book has heart. . . . I highly recommended The Leadership Challenge in 1987. I do so even more in 1995.′′ (from the foreword by Tom Peters)

Leadership is about making a difference
Jim Kouzes and I wrote THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE because we realized that leadership is everyone's business, it's not about being in a leadership position but about having the courage and spirit to move from whatever place you're in to make a significant difference. This book isn't about leaders per se. It's about leadership and how ordinary people exercise it -- and in the process become leaders who get extra-ordinary things accomplished. The leaders we've worked with and learned from have asked and been asked many questions, such as: What are my strengths and weaknesses as a leader? Where do I need to improve my leadership ability? What's required to recognize opportunities and put risk in perspective? How can I inspire and motivate others toward a common purpose? What skills are needed to build a cohesive and spirited team? What's the source of the self-confidence required to lead others? How can I put more joy and celebration into our efforts? This book is designed to help anyone to answer these questions. The principles and practices described are based solidly on research, and the examples, illustrations, and applications have been field-tested by real people. You'll find stories of regular people, from all walks of life, who got bigger-than-life results; it's not about bigger-than-life celebrities and corporate saviors. There are five fundamental practices of leaders -- Challenging the Process, Inspiring a Shared Vision, Enabling Others to Act, Modeling the Way, and Encouraging the Heart -- and the book introduces you to each practice, chapter by chapter, with a motivating example of a person thoroughly engaged in this leadership behavior. The body of each chapter presents the research (ours and others) on why this leadership behavior makes sense, how it works psychologically and pragmatically and we've provided lots of examples of how to put these essentials into practice. If all you want are the applications, then turn to the last section of each chapter for the "how to" and "next steps" in strengthening your leadership capability. The Leadership Challenge needn't be read in its entirety, nor in any particular order, to be useful. Start with any chapter, or topic, or application that interests you. Remember that ultimately leadership development is a process of self-development.