HUMANIZING LEADERSHIP

REFLECTION FUELS, PEOPLE MATTER, RELATIONSHIPS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

by Hugh MacLeod ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

A debut guide offers a personal examination of business leadership.

Differentiation in the leadership book category is virtually impossible because there are only so many ways being a leader can be portrayed. This leadership manual by MacLeod (School of Population and Public Health, Univ. of British Columbia) labors valiantly to set itself apart from the pack. For the most part, the content is familiar and has been covered in other texts; such topics as exploring personal leadership traits, dissecting organizational culture, dealing with complexity, and embracing change have been exhaustively addressed before. References to and excerpts from other books, which this volume contains, are also common. But MacLeod’s guide stands out by doing one thing particularly well: It puts a very personal face on leadership. Featured in these pages are numerous “leadership vignettes” taken from the author’s own corporate management experience that serve to illustrate key concepts. MacLeod often demonstrates lessons he personally learned, and he is unafraid to expose his own vulnerabilities and history. For example, he suggests that his grandfather’s counsel, presented when he was just 15 years old, made him a better leader. “Look through and around the obvious,” advised his grandfather, which caused the author to perceive leadership as being “about asking questions, curiosity, testing assumptions, clarity, choice and courage.” The personal slant of the insightful manual is also refreshing because it emphasizes the human side of leadership. MacLeod talks about the importance of empathy, “servant leadership,” values, and integrity. The book is under 300 pages, with just six chapters. Except for the last one, all of the chapters include a section that asks provocative questions requiring readers to delve into their own leadership styles and reflect on their unique capabilities. The questions really get to the heart of the subject. The author suggests he is sharing knowledge rather than giving specific direction, an approach that feels authentic. MacLeod closes the guide with a perceptive, elegantly written assessment of his own leadership development: “I eventually began to realize the most important tools I had are the natural tools I had gained through experience, learning, and mentoring.”

Candid, concise, and skillfully delivered leadership advice.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: 978-1-5255-2718-0

Page Count: 282

Publisher: FriesenPress

Review Posted Online: June 25, 2019

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION