Truth about Being a Leader : And Nothing but the Truth

by Otazo, Karen

• ISBN13: 9780131873384
• ISBN10: 0131873385
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: FT Press

Summary

Praise for The Truth About Being a Leader "If you ever met Dr. Otazo, you certainly would read her new Truth book. She is as she writesengaging, pithy, memorable. Take ls"Truth 33: Questions Unite; Answers Divide.rs" Now ainrs"t that the truth. And there are 51 other bon mots just like it. Open the book. Read a truth. You will smile, reflect, and be a better leader for it." Paul McLoughlin, The Krow Show with Paul McLoughlin, aka ls"the work_wonk,rs" Live Online Radio, Wednesdays, 1 pm Eastern, .VoiceAmericaBusiness.com "This is a sharply written book with smart insights into the business world. Dr. Otazo is blunt, honest, and conciseexactly the advice a real leader needs." Rudy Giuliani "The Truth About Being a Leader is a book that offers practical advice about the very difficult and elusive art of leadership. Dr. Otazors"s book offers real lessons for anyone who is tasked to lead people!" Marc Morial, CEO, National Urban League "This book takes you on a tour ls"behind closed doorsrs" of the landscape of leadership. Just as great military leaders have to know the ground where a future battle will take place, you as an aspiring leader will need to know about the terrain that is covered in this book. And the scope of the landscape here is impressive. It is not just the expected areas such as vision, communication, and team work, but also the important and often undiscussable matters such as how to select an assistant, the role of BS, and the care and use of your body as a leadership act. You can either hire Dr. Otazo as an executive coach to impart her years of wisdom from working with great leadersor you can read this compelling book and get the secrets here." Douglas T. (Tim) Hall Professor of Organizational Behavior, Director, Executive Development Roundtable, Boston University School of Management "Dr. Otazo has written a must-have book for leaders and would-be leaders! This gem of a book contains concise, easy-to-navigate chapters and useful tips. Best of all, she has included additional reading as reference for those who want more. The book explains the fundamental elements of leadership in a direct manner. If you are a leader or see yourself as one, this book offers practical and honest ways to succeed. Otazo has created a tool that can be referenced again and again." Ellen Susman, Producer/Host of PBS television show for women Balancing Your Life with Ellen Susman, www.balancingyourlifeonline.com "Dr. Otazo tops Jack Welchrs"s book, On Winning, with both her insight and depth. Amazing...This book is Otazors"s Master Class on leadership." Regina Gill, Head of Advertising Sales Germany/Austria, Financial Times Europe "I am so impressed with this book. I especially like the point that there is no BS...it is straight to the point, concise, clear, and easy to read. My favorite chapter is ls"A Leader Must Always Be On.rs" I have lived with this premise 24 hours a day for 45 years. I like the bathtub and fertilizer ideas!" Walter Johnson, Chairman, Amegy Bank of Texas "In thi

Table of Contents

Foreword	xiii
Introduction	xix
PART I THE TRUTH ABOUT ASSUMING A LEADERSHIP POSITION	1	(20)
Truth 1 More-Responsible Roles Require More Mental ``Bandwidth''	3	(3)
Truth 2 Inheriting an Assistant Requires Reeducation	6	(4)
Truth 3 Staffing Your Leadership Office: Your Assistant Plays a Vital Role	10	(4)
Truth 4 The Gaps in Your Work Habits Show Up When You Move Up	14	(3)
Truth 5 A Resource-Based View of Your Organization Goes Beyond the Numbers	17	(4)
PART II THE TRUTH ABOUT EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP STYLES	21	(18)
Truth 6 Soft-Spoken Leadership Requires Stamina	23	(3)
Truth 7 Bullshit Makes Good Fertilizer---Just Watch Your Step	26	(3)
Truth 8 Player/Coach Is a Tricky Role, So Make Sure That You Do Both Well	29	(3)
Truth 9 Caring Leaders Treat Their Teams Like Family	32	(3)
Truth 10 Innovation Requires Preparation	35	(4)
PART III THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY AS A LEADER	39	(22)
Truth 11 Match Your Leadership Message to Your Audience	41	(3)
Truth 12 Impactful Leaders Speak Simply	44	(3)
Truth 13 Sound Bites Need to Sizzle	47	(3)
Truth 14 Your Tone of Voice Should Command Attention	50	(3)
Truth 15 Names Matter to People, So Get Them Right	53	(4)
Truth 16 ``Coming Attractions'' Get Others Tuned in to Your Message	57	(4)
PART IV THE TRUTH ABOUT LEADERSHIP VISION	61	(16)
Truth 17 What's the Big Idea? Bring Your Guiding Rules into Everyday Organizational Life	63	(4)
Truth 18 Stories Help Make Change Clear	67	(3)
Truth 19 Playing Out the Tape Helps Others Prepare for the Future	70	(3)
Truth 20 Leaders Frame the Discussion	73	(4)
PART V THE TRUTH ABOUT LEADERSHIP PRESENCE AND POWER	77	(24)
Truth 21 A Leader Is Always ``On''	79	(3)
Truth 22 Choose Your Battles Carefully	82	(3)
Truth 23 Your Stress Ripples Across the Organization	85	(4)
Truth 24 Let Your Energy Be Like Fine Champagne---Not Too Bubbly or Flat	89	(3)
Truth 25 You Need to ``Read'' Like a Leader in the Blink of an Eye	92	(4)
Truth 26 Good Leadership Is the Wise Use of Power	96	(5)
PART VI THE TRUTH ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE	101	(22)
Truth 27 Often the Best Decision Is Empowering Someone Else to Decide	103	(3)
Truth 28 Adjust Your Leadership Style to Fit the Employee	106	(3)
Truth 29 No Good Deed Goes Unpunished	109	(3)
Truth 30 The Structure Is Not the Organization, Just as the Map Is Not the Territory	112	(3)
Truth 31 Coming in from the Outside? Pay Your Dues!	115	(4)
Truth 32 Delegation Is a Confidence Game	119	(4)
PART VII THE TRUTH ABOUT MOTIVATING AND INSPIRING YOUR TEAM	123	(16)
Truth 33 Questions Unite; Answers Divide	125	(3)
Truth 34 Feedback Is the Best Kind of Criticism	128	(3)
Truth 35 You Have More Than the Carrot and the Stick	131	(3)
Truth 36 Quick Coaching Keeps Your Team on Course	134	(2)
Truth 37 Little Things Mean a Lot	136	(3)
PART VIII THE TRUTH ABOUT MOLDING YOUR TEAM	139	(20)
Truth 38 A Leader Cares Passionately About Developing People	141	(3)
Truth 39 Succession Planning Ensures Your Bench Strength	144	(5)
Truth 40 Your Team Is Key to Your Success, So Vet Them Well	149	(3)
Truth 41 Dedicate Your Coaching Time Where It Does the Most Good	152	(3)
Truth 42 Awkward Discussions Are Tough; Play Offense, Not Defense	155	(4)
PART IX THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP REPUTATION	159	(22)
Truth 43 Ideas Come Across Differently with Different Media	161	(4)
Truth 44 You Can't Hide the Sun with Your Hand: Be Honest	165	(4)
Truth 45 Spouses and Partners Must Be on Their Best Behavior	169	(4)
Truth 46 You Don't Get Your Meat Where You Get Your Potatoes	173	(3)
Truth 47 Don't Get Tangled in the Grapevine	176	(5)
PART X THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS	181	(18)
Truth 48 You Can't Microwave Your Leadership Relationships	181	(4)
Truth 49 Your Network Is Your Lifeline to Influence and Information	185	(3)
Truth 50 Peers and Power Are a Potent Mix	188	(3)
Truth 51 It's Lonely at the Top; Keep It That Way	191	(3)
Truth 52 Trust and Loyalty Are Long-Term Goals	194	(5)
References	199

Excerpts

Foreword and Introduction Foreword As an executive coach, author, and keynote speaker, I am constantly on the lookout for books I can recommend to clients and readers that will help them to understand the most fundamental principles of leadership. Each year I read hundreds of books and articles on the topic with the hope that they will provide an honest and practical approach to a challenge many people accept with little or no training, guidance, or support.The Truth About Being a Leaderis the book I often search for and rarely find. That's one reason why I was delighted to write a preface for this book. Another reason is because I am intimately familiar with Dr. Karen Otazo's knowledge and approach to leadership development. Karen coached, mentored, and supported me when I was just starting my consulting practice two decades ago. Always on the cutting edge of professional development, she introduced me to the world of business coaching at a time when most people had never even heard of it. She allowed me to cofacilitate leadership workshops with her, where I learned about concepts and theories I myself had never thought of. And when I balked at conducting a training program in which I had no previous experience, she gave me an outline and insisted I could do it and do it well. In short, she was the ideal coach for a neophyte consultant and now, in this book, she uses her wisdom and insights to coachyouon how to be a leader inreal time. I use the termreal timebecause so many authors of leadership books are long on theory and short on practical, immediately useful advice. Among the many lessons I learned from Karen was the importance of providing people with coaching suggestions they can actually see in their mind's eye. She taught me to pretend I had a video camera trained on the person I was coaching. If the camera couldn't see it or hear it, then the person was less likely to be able to implement the advice.The Truth About Being a Leaderdoes just that. Karen's words are so clear and concise that you can actually see or hear yourself engaging in the behavior she suggests. You, the reader, are the beneficiary of her lifetime of experiences as an organizational development executive and global coach. There's one more thing I learned from Karen that this book underscores: that's the importance of having the courage to speak the unspoken. In this book she shares with you the true secrets of leadership success that are frequently overlooked in favor of the theory du jour written by the latest leadership guru. As hard as it may be to hear, she's right when she suggests "when you reach the top, you cannot afford to be too open with anyone inside or close to your organization." It may not be politically correct to assert "There are times in life, and the workplace, when a little bit of bullshit, or BS, is a good thing," but Karen's right about that, too. In fact, every one of her 52 short, pointed chapters speak the truth. She may not tell you what youwantto hear--but it is surely what youneedto hear. Just as there is no one right diet to help all people lose weight, one right way to raise children, or one right method for preparing your Thanksgiving turkey, there is no one right way to lead. You should be very suspect of anyone who tells you they have the answers to all of your leadership challenges. In true Karen Otazo fashion, she doesn't pretend to have the magic formula for leadership success. Instead, as she did with me, she gives you lots of things to think about, on-target tips for how to be better tomorrow than you are today, and the confidence that youcanbe a great leader. Regardless of where you are on your leadership journey, you will find, as I did, that this book an invaluable addit