The Work of Leaders How Vision, Alignment, and Execution Will Change the Way You Lead

by Straw, Julie; Davis, Barry; Scullard, Mark; Kukkonen, Susie; Franklin, Bernard W.

• ISBN13: 9781118636534
• ISBN10: 1118636538
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-04-15
• Publisher: Pfeiffer

Summary

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. Chapter 1: VAE: A Simple Intuitive Process You Can Use Every Day Chapter 2: Introduction to Vision Chapter 3: Vision Driver #1: Exploration Chapter 4: Vision Driver #2: Boldness Chapter 5: Vision Driver #3: Testing Assumptions Chapter 6: Vision: Bringing it to Life Chapter 7: Introduction to Alignment Chapter 8: Alignment Driver #1: Clarity Chapter 9: Alignment Driver #2: Dialogue Chapter 10: Alignment Driver #3: Inspiration Chapter 11: Alignment: Bringing it to Life Chapter 12: Introduction to Execution Chapter13: Execution Driver #1: Momentum Chapter 14: Execution Driver #2: Structure Chapter 15: Execution Driver #3: Feedback Chapter 16: Execution: Bringing it to Life Chapter 17: Pulling it All Together: Personalizing VAE in Your Organization Appendix: Work of Leaders Research

Author Biography

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."

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

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

About Inscape Publishing

About the Authors