The Attitude of Leadership: Taking the Lead and Keeping It [Hardcover]

Keith Harrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2003

In this enlightening guide, renowned leadership coach Keith Harrell highlights the twenty-one principles that make up what he calls "The Attitude of Leadership," and profiles twenty-one successful business leaders who exemplify those principles. The Attitude of Leadership holds up a mirror to let you see your own leadership skills; offers inspired advice from other leaders on what works and what doesn't; and helps you improve your ability to positively influence others. Use it to develop your skills as a leader and discover a whole new world of professional and personal fulfillment.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

A brief glance at the newspapers proves there’s no shortage of villains among the business elite, but you have to look a little deeper to find the heroes. In this enlightening guide, renowned leadership coach Keith Harrell highlights the twenty-one principles that make up what he calls "The Attitude of Leadership," and profiles twenty-one successful business leaders who exemplify those principles.

Because they lead by example and practice what they preach, these leaders are universally respected by their peers and revered by their employees. The Attitude of Leadership shows you how to emulate their success; it examines their best practices, helps you measure your own effectiveness as a leader, and provides practical guidance on applying these principles in your workplace.

But "the Attitude" isn’t limited to CEOs; it works for anyone and everyone in any and every leadership position–department heads, team leaders, and corporate directors alike. It works because commitment to a goal is contagious and because the fundamental principles of great leadership–honesty, integrity, dedication, and accountability–are the ultimate motivators. Leaders who possess and display those qualities don’t have to command or cajole their team members, they inspire hard work and dedication just by doing what they do best.

What you’ll find in The Attitude of Leadership isn’t a bunch of academic theories or hot new leadership techniques, just timeless principles that anyone can use to become a more effective leader. Hardly abstract, these principles are based on the real experience of successful, inspirational, and motivational business leaders who make tough decisions every single day. But the book doesn’t just describe quality leadership, it spurs you into action, helping you grow as a leader and a person. Each chapter offers a principle, explores the thoughts of a business leader who exemplifies that principle, and presents thought-provoking questions that let you start applying that principle immediately.

The Attitude of Leadership holds up a mirror to let you see your own leadership skills; offers inspired advice from other leaders on what works and what doesn’t; and helps you improve your ability to positively influence others. Use it to develop your skills as a leader and discover a whole new world of professional and personal fulfillment.

From the Back Cover

"In a cynical world what an inspiration this book is–so affirming of every person’s capacity and responsibility to lead, to positively influence. Keith Harrell, in a pleasantly readable and shareable bite-sized format, invites us to a mother lode of wisdom and timeless principles through the eyes and lives of proven leaders who’ve ‘been there, done that.’ "
–Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

"The leadership wisdom captured in this book is bound to be life changing to those who act on the challenges presented by Keith Harrell!"
–John C. Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

"Keith has written an inspirational book filled with clear messages and pragmatic insights. This book is a valuable guide for anyone who seeks lessons on how to be an effective leader."
–Oren Harari, author of the bestselling book The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell

"Like Keith Harrell himself, this book lifts you up, is an inspirational and a joyful reminder of the most powerful tool–attitude–each one of us possesses to achieve breakthroughs in our results, our lives, and the impact we have on others. The beliefs and values shared by various CEOs and tied to Keith’s philosophy are insightful, reassuring, practical, and have found a permanent home on my desk."
–Edna Morris, President, Red Lobster

"Leading is an action verb. And now Keith Harrell has added those potent action verbs of ‘taking’ and ‘keeping’ to weave an equally potent road map for any and all who do or aspire to lead effectively."
–Bob Danzig, former CEO, Hearst Newspapers
author and professional speaker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471420247
• ISBN-13: 978-0471420248
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,263,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring & Instructive Easy Read, October 29, 2004

By 

Roger E. Herman (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Attitude of Leadership: Taking the Lead and Keeping It (Hardcover)

How would you like the opportunity to sit down, one-on-one, with 21 of the exemplary top leaders of our time? What would you ask them? Would you enjoy getting to know them and yearn to begin applying what you learn to make a difference in your own life-and the lives of others? What questions would you ask them to unlock the secrets of their success?

Oh, you might be a little bit intimidated to ask personal questions, like "what is your secret of success?" "What are their best practices?" You want to know what really makes them so successful, what makes it all come together. It might be helpful to have someone else ask those questions on your behalf. Keith Harrell is a been there-done that motivational speaker who knows how to get inside the issues to learn the real truths. That insight is what makes him one of the most popular figures on the speaking circuit today.

In these pages, Keith (you'll feel like you're friends from the beginning) takes us on an exciting and enlightening journey. Not only does he dig in to get profound answers for his readers, he offers his own expansion of the leaders' responses...with challenges for us to consider how we might want to apply the learnings to change our own lives. Each chapter concludes with a sort of official biography in smaller type to help us understand who we're learning from. In putting this book together, Harrell has selected well-known and not-so-well-known leaders. Each has an important message to share, and the author's style brings those messages to life. And, as a bonus, there's an extra chapter filled with a sort of rapid-fire collection of insights from other people Keith wants to share with us.

An index enhances the value of the book. For current and aspiring leaders, this is a worthwhile read.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ready to find success? Buy this book!!, August 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Attitude of Leadership: Taking the Lead and Keeping It (Hardcover)

Keith Harrell gives 21 essential strategies that anyone can master to become successful. After reading this book I became more effective, decisive and now I have a vision of my personal climb on the ladder of success!

5.0 out of 5 stars The ttitude of Leadership, September 10, 2010

By 

Adrienne E. Sanderson "Adrienne E. Sanderson" (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Attitude of Leadership: Taking the Lead and Keeping It (Hardcover)

The Attitude of Leadership: Taking the Lead and Keeping It by Keith Harrell discusses the importance the position of leadership holds in the day to day operations of an organization. Morale and effective leadership are directly transferred from the top down.