Building Character: Strengthening the Heart of Good Leadership (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership)) [Hardcover]

Gene Klann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0787981516 | ISBN-13: 978-0787981518 | Edition: 1

Building Character is written for leaders who understand their responsibility to develop authentic leaders within their organizations. Without presenting an overarching moral code or a prescriptive code of behavior, this book offers leaders and managers a practical model complete with the tools, information, and processes to develop character in leaders at all levels. The author explains the role character plays in leadership success and effectiveness and outlines how character can be developed through the Five E's—Example, Education, Experience, Evaluation, and Environment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There is no shortcut to building leadership character! However, Gene Klann's book Building Character is excellent at organizing one's behaviors and creating awareness of the best practices to achieve your desired character outcome."
—Keith A. Holliday, vice president, First Citizens Bank

"Klann correctly identifies the learning process for leaders and the necessary tools of leaders in all walks of life. If you want a practical model for leaders and leadership training, read this book!"
—Major General William F. Burns, U.S. Army (Retired); Distinguished Fellow, U.S. Army War College

"One only has to know Gene Klann for a short time to understand how deeply he cares about the positive effects of leadership qualities like character and integrity. When Gene speaks on these topics, I make the time to listen."
—Michael Kleist, vice president of information engineering, WSI

"Klann's astute insight into human behavior has been honed through years of real-life experience, from leading our military troops in the front lines to mediating in the corporate board room. His insights are invaluable."
—Charles Lange, president and CEO, CIGNYS

"Leadership successes, or failures, are the result of moral and ethical choices...the choices of character. All who lead—or want to lead—should open this book and dig in."
—General Hal M. Hornburg, U.S. Air Force (Retired); partner, Strategic Message Solutions

"Klann courageously confronts key challenges to personal integrity in this politically correct world of the new century with a book that should be read by any individual who wishes to be considered a leader."
—Lt. Col. Michael J. Barry, U.S. Army (Retired)

From the Inside Flap

Shocking tales of personal greed, displays of unmasked hubris, and flagrant abuses of power . . . the media is filled with stories about leaders who are undone by their failure of character. These increasingly frequent demonstrations of character failure cut across all sectors of our society—corporations, sports, the entertainment industry, politics, religion, and nonprofit organizations.

Building Character is written for leaders who understand their responsibility to develop authentic leaders within their organizations. Without presenting an overarching moral code or a prescriptive code of behavior, this book offers leaders and managers a practical model complete with the tools, information, and processes to develop character in leaders at all levels. The author explains the role character plays in leadership success and effectiveness and outlines how character can be developed through the Five E's—Example, Education, Experience, Evaluation, and Environment.

Building Character is a dynamic guide that will help any organization develop leaders using a process that is based on good fundamentals, best practices, and common sense.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (December 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787981516
• ISBN-13: 978-0787981518
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #613,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Growing Leaders of Character, December 8, 2007

By 

D. Jacobson (Vienna, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Building Character: Strengthening the Heart of Good Leadership (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership)) (Hardcover)

Drawing on decades of research by the Center for Creative Leadership, Gene Klann provides a clear framework for developing leaders of character that includes rich discussions of role models, the importance of challenging work experiences, leadership character training, and organizational culture. Klann also provides several useful tools, such as a personal values self-assessment, a checklist of good leader behaviors, and 17 scenarios of leadership character dilemmas that can be used for discussion purposes. This book is an excellent addition to the literature on a vital element of leadership development that has received less attention than it should.