Book Review: LEAD BY EXAMPLE – 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results
In February of 2007, the popular and customer-friendly airline JetBlue faced what seemed like an overwhelming crisis…
A winter storm wreaked havoc on the East Coast and caused the cancellation of half of the airline’s scheduled flights and stranded an airliner full of passengers on the runway for more than eight hours. Overnight, it seemed as though JetBlue’s impeccable reputation had been tarnished.
However, instead of accepting defeat, or absolving the airline of blame, founder and CEO Jeff Neeleman took the public stage and…
apologized for JetBlue’s shortcomings. He took personal responsibility for what had happened and offered compensation to all customers who had been affected. His humility and willingness to take charge in the face of the airline’s mistakes were both examples of what it takes to be a great leader.
Taking over the top job, whether it’s the CEO of a company or the manager of a department, is never easy. Great leadership requires decisiveness, authority, conviction, compassion, and, most important, the ability to set the right example. It would seem easy, but it takes a lifetime of trying to put it into practice.
In LEAD BY EXAMPLE: 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results (AMACOM 2008) author, John Baldoni, reveals the traits and abilities leaders need to know to inspire others to follow them. He believes that a great leader does what is right for the team; in other words, supporting, developing, and defending them, in the good times and the bad.
With his advice, you will learn how to inspire their employees by earning their trust and becoming better listeners, and most importantly, learning to lighten up. By setting the right example, acting the part, and learning to deal with the tough stuff, every leader will give his people a reason to believe in and want to follow him.
You will learn how to:
- listen for ideas
- manage around obstacles
- defuse tension
- check their egos
- stand up for what they believe in
- manage crises
- develop team confidence
- recruit good people
- deliver bad news
- handle defeat
- engage their enemies
Filled with examples of visionary leaders who have overcome their shortcomings and achieved greatness, Lead by Example provides insights into what leaders need to do to inspire others by building trust and achieving lasting results, and giving their people a reason to believe.
About the Author:
John Baldoni is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, speaker, and author of six books, including Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders. He was named one of the “30 Most Influential Leadership Gurus” for 2007 by www.LeadershipGurus.net. He has been featured or quoted in many publications, including USA Today, Chicago Tribune, and Investor’s Business Daily. He is a frequent keynote and workshop speaker, writes a monthly column entitled “On Leadership” for CIO.com, a weekly blog about leadership for Fast Company, and contributes regular columns for HR.com. He also maintains a popular website at www.johnbaldoni.com.
