The End of Leadership as We Know It

Maximize your leadership impact with the latest insights and research from the field of adaptive leadership In The End of Leadership as We Know It, a team of veteran executive and leadership strategists delivers an expert analysis of the ten most common errors leaders make when attempting to address disruption and concrete strategies for avoiding them. In the book, you’ll find ways to apply the latest research in adaptive leadership and complexity to your own leadership style and achieve the impact you seek to have on your business, your followers, and yourself. The authors explain how to rethink the essence of leadership during times of flux and show you how to deal with unpredictable situations. You’ll also find: Ways to identify the devastating blind spots caused by current approaches to leadership Strategies for unleashing the creativity and potential of employees, rather than controlling them Tough-love feedback for contemporary leaders doing their best to deliver results in an increasingly uncertain and volatile business environment Full of creativity and inspirational energy, The End of Leadership as We Know It will benefit managers, executives, board members, business students and other current and aspiring business leaders.

Foreword xi Dr. Marshall Goldsmith Preface xv 1 Introduction: Making a Difference in Our Complex Times 1 2 It’s Not About You 19 Trap to avoid: Leading through expertise rather than relationships 3 The Vulnerability Paradox 35 Trap to avoid: Projecting confidence at the expense of humility 4 Stop Strategizing and Start Doing 51 Trap to avoid: Separating strategizing from executing 5 Freeing Your People with Purpose- Driven Simple Rules 69 Trap to avoid: Talking about purpose without operationalizing it 6 Why Community Organizers Consistently Beat Superheroes 85 Trap to avoid: Saving the day instead of building teams that solve problems 7 Vive la Résistance! 101 Trap to avoid: Overcoming resistance to change rather than working with it 8 Resilience Beats Efficiency 117 Trap to avoid: Cutting costs to the point of becoming brittle 9 The Siren Song of Certainty 135 Trap to avoid: Seeking certainty at the expense of reality 10 Data- Driven Decisions Still Need a Driver 151 Trap to avoid: Replacing judgment with data 11 When Best Isn’t Best 169 Trap to avoid: Assuming “best practices” are right for your situation 12 Conclusion: The End of Leadership in a Quantum Age 185 Notes 193 Acknowledgments 211 About the Authors 213 Index 215