“I've become a bit jaded about consultants and know most teambuilding exercises are viewed with cynicism by staff. But Dennis structured a customized program that got us to talk to one another and identify our own team potential. Anybody can recommend a book, outline a process or give a slide presentation. It takes a special touch from a true professional to get beyond the formalities and inspire an organization to dig deeper. That's precisely what Dennis did for us.”
-Executive Directior,
American Institute of Architects
Illinois
Resources
Here's what we're reading and talking about today…
ONE: The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership
by Lance Secretan
This book, the latest from prolific author and international leadership expert Dr. Lance Secretan, sets forth a simple yet demanding challenge for today's leaders: namely, instilling spirit and values back into today's work places. Based on interviews with hundreds of executives and employees in his client organizations, Secretan distills the essence of the behaviors people want to see in their leaders. The manifesto Secretan puts forth is the closest thing we've found to a universal code of noble behavior for today's executive leaders.
Secretan has consulted in a large number of firms who routinely appear on the “Best Places to Work” lists, so something good happens when the top leaders in organizations take his message to heart. ONE won the prestigious 2006 Book of the Year Award from the Association for Spirit at Work organization.
Speak the Truth and Point to Hope: The Leader's Journey to Maturity
by Lisa J. Marshall
In our opinion, this volume rises to the top of recent books on leadership. Drawing distinctions between “effective action” and “meaningful action”, Lisa Marshall sets up a model for leadership maturity from which any conscious leader would benefit. Marshall views leadership maturity as a journey that involves preparation, a call to action, descent into “the pit” and overcoming our “monsters”, a metamorphosis, and finally a return to life in which we are transformed as leaders and human beings.
She offers and describes four domains of leadership maturity: intellectual, emotional, moral, and spiritual. This book goes beyond trite management prescriptions and “copy-cat” solutions that masquerade as leadership development, and fully engages and challenges the reader to comprehend—and live—the intensely personal journey to mature leadership.
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
This acclaimed book by Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin examines Lincoln's extraordinary leadership skills in action during his tumultuous service as President of the United States. Faced with a cabinet of rivals—to each other and often to himself—Lincoln performed a masterful orchestration of their talents while maintaining his integrity, effectiveness, and vision.
Exhaustively researched and richly detailed, Team of Rivals is a truly exceptional story of leadership in a time of unimaginable conflict and upheaval.
