Wise Leadership: A Toolbox for Sustainable Success / Edition 1

by Eric Kessler

Overview

Wise Leadership provides current and emerging leaders with a grounded, intuitive framework to help them understand and master multiple leadership identities, allowing them to adapt seamlessly to different leadership settings and challenges.

Anchored in a wisdom-based approach, Kessler digs into leadership’s philosophical core to uncover the six fundamental challenges leaders face and presents the corresponding set of six synergistic competencies or tools that readers can develop to solve them. Bridging scholarship with practice, each part of this leadership toolbox is outlined in a clear and consistent way so that readers can learn exactly when, why, and how to use it. The user-friendly format also eases comparison and customization of the different approaches along with a consideration of their strengths and dangers.

Incorporating colorful examples and practical guidelines, this book will equip both students and professionals with a dynamic repertoire of flexible leadership skills that will help them succeed in any situation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138498839
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/17/2020
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	372
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Eric H. Kessler is a Distinguished University Professor and Henry George Scholar in the Lubin School of Business at Pace University, New York City, USA.

Table of Contents

List of Figures xi

List of Tables xii

Introduction 1

Seeing and Not Seeing 1

Hiding in Plain Sight 2

Our Guiding Principles 3

Our Intended Path 4

A Word of Caution 5

Part I Discovering Your Leadership Wisdom 7

1 The PROBLEM: Stupid Smart People 9

Leadership Idiocy Abounds 10

Let's Stop 'K.I.D.'-ding Ourselves 12

What Wisdom Is … And What It Is Not 15

Connecting Wisdom and Leadership 17

A Disheartening and Deteriorating Disequilibrium 19

Wise and Shine 21

A Roadmap for 'Wise Leadership' 25

2 The JOURNEY: Paths for Exploring Leadership 28

Exploring Leadership 29

(Good) Path 1: Leadership Chronologies - A Punctuated Progression 31

(Better) Path 2: Leadership Categories - Two Fundamental Questions 32

(Best) Path 3: Leadership Competencies - Key Insights from Leadership Theory 34

So … Essential Leadership Roles 40

With … Core Leadership Identities 45

Okay, What Does This All Mean? 47

3 The SOLUTION: A Model of 'Wise' Leadership 48

From Philosophy 49

To Leadership 56

A Model of Wise Leadership 60

Being - Head and Heart Challenges 63

Seeing - Inside and Outside Challenges 65

Doing - Pull and Push Challenges 66

A Preview of Part II 67

Part II Assembling Your Leadership Toolbox 71

4 The MIND of a Leader: How to Use Your Leadership Scientist (Logic) Tools 73

When Facing and Thinking and Understanding Challenges 76

Activate Your Leader 'Logic' Tool 81

Be a Leadership SCIENTIST 86

To Use Your Head 88

And with Extraordinary Intellectual Prowess 95

Lead with Sagacity 103

5 The HEART of a Leader: How to Use Your Leadership Artist (Aesthetics) Tools 105

When Facing Emotional and Motivation Challenges 108

Activate Your Leader 'Aesthetics' Tool 113

Be a Leadership ARTIST 116

To Use Your Heart 117

And with Extraordinary Emotive Capacity 125

Lead with Spirit 134

6 Looking Deep INSIDE Yourself: How to Use Your Leadership Icon (Ethics) Tools 136

When Facing Moral and Value Challenges 139

Activate Your Leader 'Ethics' Tool 144

Be a Leadership ICON 147

To Look Deep Inside Yourself 148

And with Extraordinary Introspective Insight 158

Lead through Character 166

7 Looking Far OUTSIDE Yourself: How to Use Your Leadership Advocate (Metaphysics) Tools 168

When Facing Meaning and Commitment Challenges 171

Activate Your Leader 'Metaphysics' Tool 175

Be a Leadership ADVOCATE 178

To Look Outside Yourself 180

And with Extraordinary Meaningful Objectives 189

Dad through Purpose 197

8 PULLING People Together: How to Use Your Leadership Maestro (Epistemology) Tools 199

When Facing Harmony and Teamwork Challenges 202

Activate Your Leader 'Epistemology' Tool 206

Be a Leadership MAESTRO 213

To Pull People Together 214

And with Extraordinary Collaborative Orientation 224

Lead with Unity 231

9 PUSHING People Forward: How to Use Your Leadership General (Politics) Tools 232

When Facing Execution and Implementation Challenges 235

Activate Your Leader 'Politics' Tool 239

Be a Leadership GENERAL 245

To Push People Forward 246

And with Extraordinary Functional Application 256

Dad with Functional Value 263

Part III Leveraging Your Leadership Success 265

10 A SELECTION Guide for the Wise Leader: Customizing your Leadership Approach 267

The Importance of Agility and Customization 268

Sizing Yourself Up 274

Summoning the Skill and the Will 277

What Happens When You Are the 'Wrong' Type of Leader 279

Taken Together: Aligning the Gears 286

Implications and Issues Going Forward 289

11 An OPTIMIZATION Guide for the Wise Leader: Growing your Leadership Strengths 290

Dynamic Leadership Competencies 291

Growing Oneself: Maximizing Your Toolbox 291

Growing Others: An (Organizational) Talent Management Program 297

Implications and Issues 307

12 A MAINTENANCE Guide for the Wise Leader: Trouble-Shooting your Leadership Exposures 309

Erosion versus Evolution 310

Major Forces - Opportunities and Threats 311

Technology and Leadership 315

Globalization and Leadership 320

Institutions and Leadership 326

Your Personal Trouble-Shooting Checklist 331

Appendix A Bibliography 334

Appendix B Summary of Core Wise Leadership Tools 349

Appendix C Sample Syllabus for a Wise Leadership Program 350

Appendix D Exercises to Practice Wise Leadership 351

Index of Names 353

Index of Subjects 357