Leader By Design

The inspirational true story of former Sportsgirl CEO Colleen Callander's rise to the top and her lessons for those looking to step up.Before we can lead anyone else, we need to be leading in our own lives.In Leader by Design, Colleen Callander aims to inspire all women to have a voice, live with purpose, lead in their own lives, change the rules, live with confidence and embrace their superpowers.She also aims to inspire organisations to embrace a new era of leadership - one that leads with kindness, trust and authenticity and one that has more women at the helm.A wife, mother of three, and chronic high-achiever, Colleen left school at the age of 16 and became state manager of a national retail brand within a few short years. She went on to become a top female CEO - but not before she almost threw in the towel, burdened under the crushing weight of burnout.Colleen held the role of CEO for 13 years, over which time her mission was to empower, engage, inspire and allow people to bring their best selves to work each day. This book is part autobiography, sharing Colleen's life journey (including how her upbringing shaped the women and leader she is today), and it is part guide/pocket mentor, full of actionable tips, advice, actions and insights to help women step into their confidence and lead with purpose.Each chapter shares insights and tips, is thought-provoking, and will empower and inspire all women who, no matter at what stage they are in on their leadership journey in business or in life, to believe that the best is yet to come. Leader By Design will ignite the courage and confidence to believe in your own superpower and believe in and embrace the positive influence that women can have on the world today through the way we lead. Perfect for job seekers, new graduates, and experienced professionals, this practical, invaluable guide will have you prepared, ready and positioned for career success.

Ambassador Richard Swett?s groundbreaking new book investigates the unique civic leadership strengths of the architecture profession. Drawing upon the compelling history of the profession, both past and present,as well as from his own singular experience as the only architect to serve in Congress during the 20th century, Swett has produced an insightful volume that is both inspiring and instructive. He shares Mark Twain?s viewthat ?if the only tool you have is a hammer, after a while every problem begins to look like a nail.? Leadership by Design is an eloquent plea to architects, leaders and citizens alike to expand the tool chest as we seeknew leadership to design new solutions for the complex challenges facing our nation and the world.

What does it take to be the leader of a design firm or group? We often assume they have all the answers, but in this rapidly evolving industry they’re forced to find their way like the rest of us. So how do good design leaders manage? If you lead a design group, or want to understand the people who do, this insightful book explores behind-the-scenes strategies and tactics from leaders of top design companies throughout North America. Based on scores of interviews he conducted over a two-year period—from small companies to massive corporations like ESPN—author Richard Banfield covers a wide range of topics, including: How design leaders create a healthy company culture Innovative ways for attracting and nurturing talent Creating productive workspaces, and handling remote employees Staying on top of demands while making time for themselves Consistent patterns among vastly different leadership styles Techniques and approaches for keeping the work pipeline full Making strategic and tactical plans for the future Mistakes that design leaders made—and how they bounced back

Complete the following sentences:“I am most energized when . . .”“I have always dreamed of . . .”“I derive joy from . . .”If there is a disconnect between how you completed these statements and the reality of your present situation, then something is getting in the way of you and the future you desire.Most of us actually spend a great deal of time thinking about our future, yet it is something we rarely address in a formal way. Why is it that the very thing we think about so often is something for which we rarely receive guidance? Leader of One: Shaping Your Future through Imagination and Design changes that reality, helping us to envision our future and to take action to make it happen.We have all experienced the widening gap between where we are and where we wish to be. Life, we find, gets in the way. It becomes too easy in this hyper-dynamic world to confuse means with ends, busyness with importance, and activity with progress. We have a living to make after all, or, if we're students, we must prepare to do so. For those of us in mid-career, there appear to be even more obstacles. In time, we discover we have drifted away from whatever it was we were passionate about, unaware that we were forfeiting a future that was ours to claim if only we had known how to unleash the “leader” within.Leader of One tells us how. Through Gerald Suarez's engaging voice, we learn about a process called idealized design, a method first applied in corporations by the renowned Wharton Emeritus Professor Russell Ackoff and his team. Ackoff and Suarez worked together to apply the same methodology in the White House where Suarez served two presidents for over a decade. As an internationally recognized authority on leadership and organizational redesign, Professor Suarez found the process worked as easily in the classroom as it did in the boardroom. What works for large organizations works for individuals as well.The methodology is simple, but the implications are profound. Suarez describes a cycle of activities that begins with the mental creation of an idealized future and ends with its realization. He teaches us how to begin in the future and work backwards to the present, from B to A, so to speak. He has us examine assumptions about who we are and asks us to explore what we value, to “dig deep” for answers. He does not allow us to be passive observers. He requires we learn by doing. It is not enough to dream, we must have the courage to take action. Leader of One is a book to guide us as we move through our days. In one sense it is timeless. Readers will find it invaluable now, but worth revisiting in the years ahead as circumstances change and as new passions take hold.

Over the past decade, the Rotman School of Management and its award-winning publication, Rotman magazine, have proved to be leaders in the emerging field of design thinking. Employing methods and strategies from the design world to approach business challenges, design thinking can be embraced at every level of an organization to help build innovative products and systems, and to enhance customer experiences. This collection features Rotman magazine's best articles on design thinking and business design. Insights are drawn from the people on the frontlines of bringing design into modern organizations, as well as from the leading academics who are teaching design thinking to a new generation of global leaders. Rotman on Design is divided into three sections, each of which features an all-new introduction by a prominent thought leader. The selections cover a variety of practical topics, focusing on why design methodologies are so important today and how they can be introduced into organizations that have never before considered design thinking. They also illustrate the particular skills that promote great design - whether it be of a new business plan, a user experience, a health care system, or an economic policy. Together, the articles in this collection will help managers to thrive and prepare for future challenges. Anyone who is interested in fostering creativity and innovation in their organization will benefit from this engaging book.

"This book will help you get your bearings as a leader, gain confidence, and learn tactical approaches from experts who have been in your shoes so you can support your team and advance your career"--Design Better website.

What does it take to be the leader of a design firm or group? We often assume they have all the answers, but in this rapidly evolving industry they’re forced to find their way like the rest of us. So how do good design leaders manage? If you lead a design group, or want to understand the people who do, this insightful book explores behind-the-scenes strategies and tactics from leaders of top design companies throughout North America. Based on scores of interviews he conducted over a two-year period—from small companies to massive corporations like ESPN—author Richard Banfield covers a wide range of topics, including: How design leaders create a healthy company culture Innovative ways for attracting and nurturing talent Creating productive workspaces, and handling remote employees Staying on top of demands while making time for themselves Consistent patterns among vastly different leadership styles Techniques and approaches for keeping the work pipeline full Making strategic and tactical plans for the future Mistakes that design leaders made—and how they bounced back

An ordinary leader is someone who leads a small organization or team that is doing great things. They manage the majority of the world’s workforce, but they don’t lead large corporations or big government agencies. Ordinary leaders are rarely written about in books or quoted in magazines. They are, however, important. Maybe not globally, but in their own realm of influence, their leadership makes a difference. The term “ordinary” is also used to highlight the belief that no one ever arrives as a leader. In fact, if someone thinks of themselves as extraordinary, they will not be a very effective leader. Author Randy Grieser presents 10 key insights for building and leading a thriving organization. These are the principles he identifies as instrumental to success as a leader. Writing for leaders everywhere, he inspires, motivates, and explains how to make each insight a reality in your organization. Become a more passionate, productive, and visionary leader by exploring and embracing these 10 insights: Motivation and Employee Engagement: Organizations flourish when employees go beyond what is expected of them. Passion: A passionate, inspired workforce begins with the leader. Vision: Visionary leaders energize and inspire people to work towards a future goal. Self-Awareness: Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is vital for leading any organization. Talent and Team Selection: The right employees must, first and foremost, fit the workplace culture. Organizational Health: Employees are most engaged when leaders are committed to the emotional well-being of everyone. Productivity: Focusing on how and what things get done increases efficiency. Creativity and Innovation: Building processes for innovation puts creativity to work. Delegation: As you free up your time, you will also increase employee engagement. Self-Improvement: Personal development makes all the other principles easier to achieve. Also included are the perspectives of 10 ordinary leaders from a range of professions, survey feedback from over 1,700 leaders and employees, and a resource section that provides detailed guidance and examples for putting these ideas into action.