Leadership In The Crucible Of Work Discovering The Interior Life Of An Authentic Leader

The book explores how to build an approach to academic leadership based on your own personal values, convictions, and principles. Rather than trying to assert that only certain values (or even virtues) are essential for good leadership, the approach taken is to begin with who you really are, “your true self,” and then to build a leadership framework consistent with that identity that makes your institution or program stronger. We explore why hypocrisy is damaging to any form of leadership, but particularly so in higher education where values of scholarship and research are based on the confidence we have in others’ integrity. As a result, authenticity, even more than such commonly promoted “traits of leaders” as vision, courage, and compassion, becomes the core of effective leadership in the academy today. Through hypothetical case studies and thought experiments, the book challenges administrators to identify a small set of core values that truly define who they are as academic leaders and then to use those values as the basis for a philosophy of leadership that guides them through the turbulent changes occurring in higher education today.

This book provides a comprehensive approach for colleges rethinking their community policy connections. From a ‘pracademic’ perspective, it introduces a new paradigm for contemporary college and community connections through the evolution of research, scholarship and experience, and the application of the Public Affairs discipline from Higher Education Leadership. The book explains how the public affairs forces of Community, Organization, and Administration offer a unique combination of concepts and theory that can transform practice, develop innovation, strengthen communities, and transform lives through a college partnering in a variety of community projects. The book’s defined ethical composition institutes leadership in the public realm, within the Public Affairs Triumvirate; and its discussion of the ‘science to service to philosophy’ will advance higher education strategy scholarship, creating new ideas for how academia and communities can create sustained connections and partnerships for solving problems in any community.

We have moved past the Information Age and are now living in the Imagination Age. Intuitive and creative thinking skills are as valuable as “hard skills” and are unique to each one of you. You have these innate skills—all you have to do is unleash them. Join up. What does imagination have to do with leadership? Ever since he was in college, Brian Paradis has been intrigued by the question, “What does imagination have to do with leadership?” For thirty years, he studied this puzzle as he honed his business and leadership skills, and one thing became crystal clear: imagination has a powerful influence on leadership. The compelling combination of leader + imagination = an opportunity to unleash all kinds of potential. The world is increasingly complex, knowledge is advancing at an unfathomable rate, and the problems in our world seem unsolvable. Organizations are in near constant and disruptive transition, and the cultures that define them are disconnected, disaffected, and divisive. Too many leaders show up to work wondering if any of it matters. We are “smarter” than any generation in history, but that isn’t the problem. The problem is imagination is not advancing at the same pace. But where there’s a closed door, there’s an open window of opportunity for those willing to walk through, to take a risk, and see what others don’t. Lead with Imagination promises three returns on your investment of time from reading it: You will be inspired by the possibilities and strengthened against the challenges. You will gain power and confidence to imagine, create, and innovate. We are all born with innate imagination and curiosity—learn how to use it. You will release your fullest potential and help release the potential of those you lead. We all learned as kindergarteners to assimilate quickly by giving the teacher (society) the desired answer, and to “fit in.” That colored our thinking from that moment forward and restricted our thinking and use of imagination. But now, it’s time to color outside the lines.

This volume addresses how we might help students find the "why" of their educational endeavors. The ideas found in this volume range from: changing the perceptions and attitudes of whole communities toward education, retuning the first year experience to give students more opportunities to find meaning in their learning, suggesting new ways of integrating students’ experiences with their learning in core courses, and connecting major initiatives already in place to demonstrate how we might restructure undergraduate education through the content of the curriculum, the way we teach, and our curricular learning experiences. This is the 145th volume of this Jossey-Bass higher education series. It offers a comprehensive range of ideas and techniques for improving college teaching based on the experience of seasoned instructors and the latest findings of educational and psychological researchers.

Western culture is increasingly polarized, and Christians often feel they are “under siege” by the dominant secular culture. Compounding the problem is that Christians cannot agree among themselves how to respond to a culture that is increasingly “post-Christian.” The authors have observed five basic responses by Christians to this feeling of “exile”: (1) assimilation and acceptance of the new cultural norms, (2) withdrawal from cultural engagement, (3) anger directed toward society (and toward other Christians who don’t see the issues as they do), (4) fear, or (5) seeking power to “take back the culture.” Scripture calls us to a different way, speaking into the world with a new voice. Micah calls us to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” with God, Jeremiah calls us to “seek the good of the city,” and Jesus calls us to be salt and light while knowing that in this world we “will have trouble.” In short, we are to engage the culture we live in as disciples of Jesus. But how practically is that done? In this book, the authors look carefully at the lives of twelve biblical characters who also lived in “challenging times” for guidance in navigating our post-Christian world. Rejecting assimilation, withdrawal, anger, fear, and power-seeking, we are challenged today with the ancient words of Mordecai to Esther: “Who knows whether for just a time as this you have come to this position in your life?”

A personal guide for becoming an authentic leader Whether you are just starting your leadership journey or leading a large organization, The Discover Your True North Fieldbook will help you find your leadership purpose, that internal Compass that provides direction and keeps you oriented—your True North. Through a series of reflective exercises, this Fieldbook helps you become a better leader by learning to be a more authentic one. This Fieldbook both personalizes and unlocks the central lessons of its companion book, Discover Your True North by Bill George. It shares the most powerful insights that coauthors Nick Craig, Bill George, and Scott Snook have learned from helping more than 10,000 leaders discover and live up to their fullest potential. Each chapter contains potent exercises that help you mine your life story for deep insights and important patterns. As you work your way through these reflections, you will gain a clearer sense of who you are and why you lead—the essence of an authentic leader. We offer an identity-based approach to leader development. Rather than telling you how to lead, the Fieldbook guides you through an intimate process of personal discovery. By understanding your life story and sharpening your personal narrative, you will discover the unique leader you were meant to be. On the way, you will work through the same lessons taught to MBA students at Harvard Business School, as well as senior executives in many Fortune 100 companies. The Discover Your True North Fieldbook will help you: Become more self-aware and self-accepting Locate that sweet spot at the intersection of your passions and strengths Identify and lead from your core values when it matters most Build a robust support team to guide you through difficult times Discover your leadership purpose, the essence of who you are, your True North Stay grounded by integrating all aspects of your life Grow as a global leader Help others become authentic leaders To help you actually live your True North, this Fieldbook concludes by offering a rigorous, step-by-step process that generates a customized, behaviorally anchored Personal Leadership Development Plan. This plan not only summarizes and integrates everything you've learned completing this Fieldbook, but does so in a way that supports immediate action and impact. Welcome to your journey toward authentic leadership. Welcome to your True North. Visit www.DiscoverYourTrueNorth.org to learn more.

Good leadership comes from the strength of one's authentic presence - the identity and integrity of the leader. It cannot be reduced to technique or position or power. Drawing on the wisdom and experience of forty-five authentic leaders - from CEOs to community leaders to parents - The Authentic Leader gets to the heart of what it means to amplify your impact in the world by being more authentic. For those committed to evolving your soul and the souls of those you serve, this book will inspire and guide you to finding and amplifying your voice, while inspiring and guiding others to find theirs. In the process, readers will discover meaning, significance, and deep satisfaction in their lives. The Authentic Leader is a book that awakens your soul to what matters most. It inspires you to explore the impact of your authentic presence. Do you want to discover significance and deep satisfaction in your life? The Authentic Leader is a book that awakens your soul to what matters most.