Comprehensively researched, thought-provoking, and eminently practical VAE: The Work of Leaders stimulates fresh conversations and new perspectives regardless of the leader’s knowledge or experience. It’s an opportunity for leaders at all levels of learning to reflect on how they approach each step of their work along a “leadership continua” and helps leaders take action with personalized tips and strategies that give clear direction and are easy to apply.
Introductory chapters introduce the steps of the VAE process, defines, demystifies, and contextualizes each, and sets up the three key “drivers” for each step. Subsequent chapters address each driver in detail.
Driver chapters introduce keys and behaviors that leaders use to further each step of the model and provides specific strategies for those who are looking to increase their ability to explore during the vision process. It also makes these ideas concrete by relating illustrative examples or anecdotes about people and organizations who have used these drivers to improve their effectiveness to realize each step in meaningful ways. Throughout each chapter, proprietary research and quotes from key thinkers help to add interest and depth to the discussion.
Concluding chapters aim to “bring to life” each step with real-world stories that illustrate key lessons about each step on the leadership continua. These examples show the simplicity, intuitiveness, and usefulness of each step as a part of the work of leaders. It also includes suggested reading for further exploration of this aspect of the work of leaders.
Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Welcome to the Work of Leaders
VISION
- Chapter 2: Introduction to Crafting a Vision
- Chapter 3: Crafting a Vision through Exploration
- Chapter 4: Crafting a Vision through Boldness
- Chapter 5: Crafting a Vision through Testing Assumptions
- Chapter 6: Summary of Crafting a Vision
ALIGNMENT
- Chapter 7: Introduction to Building Alignment
- Chapter 8: Building Alignment through Clarity
- Chapter 9: Building Alignment through Dialogue
- Chapter 10: Building Alignment through Inspiration
- Chapter 11: Summary of Building Alignment
EXECUTION
- Chapter 12: Introduction to Championing Execution
- Chapter 13: Championing Execution through Momentum
- Chapter 14: Championing Execution through Structure
- Chapter 15: Championing Execution through Feedback
- Chapter 16: Summary of Championing Execution
- Afterword: Using VAE in Your Organization
- Appendix A: The Development of the Work of Leaders VAE Model
- Appendix B: Feedback Outtakes
- References
- Resources
Praise for The Work of Leaders
- "The Work of Leaders is a bright gem of a book. In a crystal clear and to-the-point style, the authors make leadership instantly accessible with a memorable model, rock solid fundamentals, original research, compelling stories, and highly practical tips for putting the principles to immediate use. There are invaluable lessons on every page, and you’ll enjoy discovering each one. We highly recommend The Work of Leaders to anyone who aspires to make extraordinary things happen in organizations."—Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of the bestselling The Leadership Challenge.
- "Clear, distinctive, intuitive, and deeply researched, The Work of Leaders gives every reader not only several 'a-ha!' moments, but smart, meaningful suggestions for changing the way we all lead."—Elaine Biech, author of The Business of Consulting.
- "The authors have indeed done their homework! Their combined expertise and engaging writing gives their readers a one-stop shop for understanding and improving the way we lead. Bravo!"—Beverly Kaye, coauthor of Love 'Em or Lose 'Em.
- "The Work of Leaders shows you how to create a thriving organization by setting a vision and then collaborating with your people to guide your company to success. It is the strategic tool you need to move your business forward, with imaginative writing and a practical approach you can use right away."—Tom mckee, CEO, The Ken Blanchard Companies.
- "Anyone who is in a leadership position or is responsible for evaluating leaders should make this book a must-read. Collectively, the book's authors are unique in their knowledge, background and ability, which is what distinguishes this great piece of work from others of its kind."—Sidney Feltenstein, former CEO, Yorkshire Global Restaurants.
- "If you are a leader of a company or aspire to be one, I highly recommend reading this book. Using an easy to understand framework, the authors clearly lay out a blueprint for a company's success. This book is well researched, but also practical and fun to read. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed."—Paul F. Murphy, partner, Sentinel Capital Partners.
- "The Work of Leaders integrates the three essential ingredients to a best-selling treatise: a research-based framework, plenty of pragmatic advice, and an extremely engaging style and format. A must-have toolkit for any leader navigating the unpredictable global economy."—Dr. Stephen L. Cohen, founder and principal, Strategic Leadership Collaborative.
- "I worked with the authors for nearly ten years and their powerful model not only helps leaders articulate a clear vision, it drives organizational alignment and flawless execution."—Kristin Newhall, partner, Riverside Company.
About the Authors
- Julie Straw oversees Inscape's network of more than 1,800 trainers, coaches, and consultants and has guided development of this book from the reader's perspective.
- Mark Scullard, PhD, leads all aspects of research for Inscape and personally combed through all of the data—hundreds of thousands of item responses—that made this book possible.
- Susie Kukkonen leads all product development efforts at Inscape and juggled the writing of this book with a full-tilt product development schedule.
- Barry Davis oversees both marketing and product development for Inscape, and his passion for innovation means that he doesn't understand the phrase, "But that's how we've always done it."
Book Details
- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Pfeiffer; 1 edition (April 15, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1118636538
- ISBN-13: 978-1118636534
- Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
- List Price: $24.95