Leading in Times of Crisis

LEADERS TODAY ARE GRAPPLING with complex choices, diverse customers and employees, and unprecedented uncertainty in the economic environment. Business models are becoming obsolete, cost and performance pressures are growing, regulatory requirements are changing, and trust in institutions is declining. Tackling these and other growing demands requires every leader to radically rethink what constitutes effective leadership. Leading in Times of Crisis presents a new approach and concrete steps to compete in this complex, diverse, and uncertain marketplace. Drawing on compelling research and more than twenty interviews with CEOs and top-level executives, former executives and professors David Dotlich, Peter Cairo, and Stephen Rhinesmith highlight the growing urgency to evolve from a traditional, one-dimensional leadership model to what they term "whole leadership." Whole leadership allows leaders to act in three ways that are important now but absolutely essential to their business in the future: RETHINK YOUR BUSINESS CONNECT WITH STAKEHOLDERS LIVE YOUR VALUES In an accessible, no-nonsense style, the authors provide new and experienced leaders with specific action steps for facing difficult choices, engaging diverse customers and employees, and acting in the face of uncertainty to deliver results and move companies forward in a turbulent, demanding, and resource-constrained world. Leading in Times of Crisis will help you become a "whole leader" by aligning your purpose, skills, and decisions with the outcomes your business requires. Read it and find out how every leader has the potential to make a difference in this new world.

Introduction 1 Part One The Challenge 5 1 Navigating the Perfect Storm: Complexity, Diversity, and Uncertainty 6 2 What You’re Up Against as a Leader Today 15 Part Two Nine Ways to Navigate the Perfect Storm Through Whole Leadership 29 Section One Navigating the Wave of Complexity 30 3 Destroy and Rebuild Your Business Model 31 4 Focus, Simplify, and Network Your Organization 45 5 Build a Climate for Innovation 59 Section Two Navigating the Wave of Diversity 74 6 Differentiate and Integrate Your Markets 76 7 Learn to Lead Everyone 90 8 Become Stakeholder Savvy 108 Section Three Navigating the Wave of Uncertainty 123 9 Redefine Risk and Uncertainty 125 10 Balance Conflicting Priorities 138 11 Be Clear What You Have the Courage to Stand For 154 Part Three Developing Whole Leaders and Teams 165 12 Aligning Your Company’s Talent to Navigate the Storm 166 13 Aligning Your Team Around Whole Leadership 179 14 Developing Yourself as a Whole Leader 190 15 Navigating the Perfect Storm: A Final Thought: Why Whole Leaders Will Succeed 200 Bibliography 211 Acknowledgments 217 About the Authors 219 Index 221