The Leadership Challenge, 4th Edition
Guest Reviewer: Marshall GoldsmithMarshall Goldsmith has been recognized by almost every major business publication as one of America's leading executive educators and coaches.  He is the author or co-editor of 22 books, includingWhat Got You Here Won't Get You There--aNew York Timesbestseller andWall Street Journal#1 business book.I considerLeadership Challengeby Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner to be the best research-based book ever written in the field of leadership.What I love about this book is that it is actually written for its readers!Let's face it--very few readers of business books are CEO's of multi-billion corporations.  Yet many business books follow the same over-used formula--interviewing CEOs--talking about whattheyare doing so well--and suggesting thatyoudo the same thing.Leadership Challengeis based upon learnings from leaders at all levels--and shows how "regular people" can make a huge, positive difference in their organizations.  It is written in a way that can help executives, mid-managers, first-line supervisors, project leaders--and even individual contributors--better understand how they can lead--and be able to immediately apply what they have learned in their work.My favorite movie isThe Wizard of Oz.  Three of the movie's main characters are seekers: the scarecrow--who is searching for a brain--or wisdom, the tin man--who is searching for a heart--or compassion, and the lion--who is searching for the nerve--or courage.Leadership Challengehelps its readers, who are also seekers, find all three.  It shows how real leaders can demonstrate the wisdom--needed to build a vision and show the way, the courage--needed to the challenge the system and do what is right, and the  compassion--needed to care for and inspire others.Although my Ph.D. is in Organizational Behavior, my undergraduate background is in mathematics.  I respect people who gather real facts and don't just "shoot from the hip."  Jim and Barry have developed the "Leadership Practices Inventory"--which is possibly the world's most widely-respected tool for 360° leadership feedback.  They have thoroughly reviewed input from tens of thousands of respondents and used this data to form sound conclusions about what works--and what doesn’t work--in terms of leadership behavior.My recent book,What Got You Here Won't Get You There, talks about why it can be so challenging for successful people to make the changes that they need to "go to the next level."  Jim and Barry have not fallen into the classic "successful author's trap."  Given the tremendous success of the first edition ofLeadership Challenge, they could have easily thought, "Why change this?  It is a huge winner!"  Instead they have put in countless hours to make each new edition of this classic better than the previous editions.  They have worked to incorporate both what they have learned, through their ongoing research--and what they have observed, through their observations of the changing world of work--to make this edition the best--and most relevant--for today's readers.My final comment for you as a reader: don't justlearnfrom this book--do somethingwith what you learn.  This is a practical guide that can help you lead in a way that makes your organization a better place.  Take advantage of this opportunity to make a positive difference in your own life--and in the lives of the people that you lead.--Marshall GoldsmithMore to ExploreThis leadership classic continues to be a bestseller after three editions and 20 years in print. It is the gold standard for research-based leadership, and the premier resource on becoming a leader. This new edition, with streamlined text, more international and business examples, and a graphic redesign, is more readable and accessible to business readers than ever before, and will prove to be the best edition yet.FAQs About the Five Practices Model fromThe Leadership ChallengeLearn More AboutThe Leadership ChallengeApproach