The Leader as a Mensch: Become the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow [Paperback]

Bruna Martinuzzi (Author), Michael A. Freeman M.D. (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2009

Offering a Glimpse Into the Strength, Wisdom, and Self-Mastery of Exceptional Leadership

This insightful and engaging book speaks volumes on ways in which all of us, at any level, can improve our leadership impact and develop the humility, integrity, and honor that instills hope and confidence in others. Drawing on over 25 years of leadership experience, Bruna Martinuzzi brilliantly conveys the essential guidelines for the emotionally intelligent leadership needed for enduring success. Some leaders are exceptional human beings, people that others genuinely want to follow; the book uses the Yiddish word Mensch, meaning "real person of character" to describe these worthy leaders. Martinuzzi takes the reader on a transformative journey to a way of living, self-discovery, and personal strength that translates into becoming a person who authentically inspires with empathy and confidence -- and successfully motivates others to follow by example, a mensch-leader.

Written for senior and emergent leaders, as well as coaches and mentors, Leader as a Mensch reminds us that followers strongly impact and sustain good leadership -- and, before you can lead any group, team, or organization, you must first lead yourself. This book is anyone wanting to enhance the way he or she supports and influences others at work and in life. An unsurpassed glimpse into the strength, wisdom, and self-mastery of true leadership, Bruna Martinuzzi's inspiring words close with an equally inspiring appendix, complete with an extensive listings of books, articles, and emotional intelligence frameworks to use on your path toward your personal best.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A deeply profound book for coaches, mentors, as well as senior executives and emergent leaders. The truth is, it s a must read for anyone in society who has opportunity to influence others. --Larry Bienati, Ph.D., author, When Eagles Fly in Formation.

Every once in a while a book is written that is as rich with heart as it is with skills and applications. This book is a must-read for anyone who has come to grips with the fact leadership is not about exercising authority. It s about setting a clear example. Every reader can find something for themselves to work on in this soon to be business classic. --Joseph Gibbons, Ph.D., The FutureWork Institute.

This is a valuable and uplifting book for everyone who wants to make the world a better place. Bruna Martinuzzi has written a beautiful book about how to achieve true 'menschdom'. --Guy Kawasaki, MBA, Author, Reality Check; Co-founder, Alltop.com

The uniqueness of this book is Bruna Martinuzzi s ability to universally assimilate the word mensch into today's leadership lexicon. Fluent in six languages, a global workplace coach, and a mensch herself -- I'd say her affinity to the human elements of growth and change will have a global and lasting effect on all of our tomorrows.
-- Libby Sartain, MBA, SPHR, CCP, Former Yahoo & Southwest Airlines executive; author, HR from the Heart

This book is an invaluable and timely tool in the field of executive coaching. Bruna Martinuzzi has positioned emotional intelligence as the centerpiece in leadership by describing the emotionally intelligent mensch which exemplifies what we should strive for in leaders.
-- Reuven Bar-On, Ph.D., Emotional intelligence expert, creator, The Bar-On Model of Emotional Intelligence

An extraordinary collection of truly inspiring insights into leadership success; an instant classic. --Lauren Doliva, Ph.D., Heidrick & Struggle

This is truly an important book for our times. Given decades of erosion in the principles and practices of corporate and public leadership, Bruna's book reminds us, in fact inspires us, about the salient characteristics of trusted leaders and the forces that drive us to follow and respect them. This book is a must read for everyone. We all have the opportunity to lead each day and Bruna shows us our potential to do so.
-- Michael H. Mitchell, GreenLight Management Inc.

I often read leadership books and wonder whether I would want to lead in such a way, whether I would be capable of such leadership, or whether I would follow such a leader. In this book, Bruna Martinuzzi has woven the essential meaning of the word mensch into a new vision for leaders. I am confident that such leaders would be 'worth following'.
-- David R. Caruso, Ph.D., EI Skills Group, coauthor, The Emotionally Intelligent Manager

Bruna Martinuzzi has distilled the essence of what it takes to influence and motivate others, not by the exercise of authority, but through the example of ethical and admirable character. She doesn't just tell us how -- she helps us understand. --Mark D. Lange, MBA, Writer - Christian Science Monitor; former PeopleSoft and SAP executive

About the Author

Bruna Martinuzzi is the President of Clarion Enterprises Ltd., a company which specializes in leadership, emotional intelligence, and presentation skills training. She is a facilitator, coach, author and keynote speaker with over 25 years of experience. Bruna speaks six languages and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia. She is the recipient of several awards, including the Izaak Killam Pre-doctoral Fellowship, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Award, and the BC Workplace Excellence Award for Unusual Innovation. She is the co-author of The Power to Lead: Lessons in Developing Your Unique Masterpiece. She lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: Six Seconds; First edition (January 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979734304
• ISBN-13: 978-0979734304
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You cannot have effective leadership without credibility; and the quickest route to earn credibility is to act as a Mensch.", May 2, 2010

By 

Michael Urbonas (Wakefield MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Leader as a Mensch: Become the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow (Paperback)

Any organization that has a true mensch (or mensches!) as its leadership has a powerful competitive advantage. A mensch strongly disdains leading others by means of persuasion (the carrot on the end of the stick) or through the power of positional authority (forget the carrot, just hit people with the stick). A mensch chooses instead to lead by example, through the sheer force of authentic character and unassuming integrity (not to be confused with the faux, two-dimensional charisma of a "celebrity CEO"). People want to work for, even rally around, a mensch leader. An interaction with a mensch manager leaves a person with, to borrow a religious metaphor, "with his cup filled up;" having just been the beneficiary of genuine wisdom, respect and dignity. A mensch is selfless, builds up others around her, and is key to the sustained success of any organization.

The good news from Bruna Martinuzzi is menches are born, not made; which is why I must implore you to buy, read, reflect, and act upon her new book, The Leader as a Mensch: Become the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow.

Bruna Martinuzzi explores the key character traits that make up a mensch through the analogy of a tree: roots, the foundational mensch qualities (humility, authenticity, empathy); trunk, those qualities visible through everyday interaction with a mensch (accountability, optimism, mastery), and branches, those additional visible traits which help to build up other people, mentoring others to also become menches (a positive mood, generosity, appreciation). The tree is a very apt metaphor, particularly when considering that one of the most infamous CEOs of recent history, purely antithetical to the notion of menschdom, was nicknamed "Chainsaw Al" Dunlap.

Even better, Bruna Martinuzzi concludes each chapter with numerous and copious "leaves" of advice; specific action recommendations to help develop each mensch character trait, making this not just a book to read or even just skim, but a workbook to reflect on, "weigh and consider" as Francis Bacon said, act upon, and refer back to. Bruna Martinuzzi also cites numerous resources to expand the reader's efforts to develop a character trait, with a very useful recommended "mensch library" as just one of a number of useful appendicies concluding the book.

Perhaps best of all, this book was not written just for people who have already elbowed their way into a high-profile management role. As Bruna Martinuzzi explains in her introduction, this book is for the "everday leader" - from managers, supervisors, team leaders to community organizers, teachers, professionals, shopkeepers - anyone who aspires to be a mensch leader within their respective spheres, large or small. For that matter, the greatest personal brand one can aspire to is being a mensch, making this book a must read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Lessons in Leadership, April 29, 2010

By 

K. Kirkpatrick (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Leader as a Mensch: Become the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow (Paperback)

I was drawn in by the fun book title and was pleasantly suprised that it turned out to be such a great read. Bruna's writing style is clever and concise. The idea of focusing on yourself and really learning what it means to be authentic and to inspire is a lesson well learned. If you are looking for an easy read which packs in some good leadership learning, this is it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Reminder, A Guide, A "Must Have and Read Repeatedly"!, June 8, 2010

By 

I. L. Battista (Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Leader as a Mensch: Become the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow (Paperback)

I love how the author shares her vast reading, research and life experience, and approaches the issue with her own style, wit, and personal wisdom. "The Leader as a Mensch" is easy and enjoyable to read, very well organized and pleasantly laid out, and I especially like how easy it is to quickly access certain sections that I like to focus on. Whether one has formal leadership authority or not, this is one of those rare books I felt I had to have and have to read more than once as it has the potential for powerful, positive impact on one's personal and professional life. For me "The Leader as a Mensch" is right up there with my favrouite book, Tony Robbins' "Awaken the Giant Within", a book that has brought about a tremendous turn around in my life. Both books now have a place on my night-table and I will refer to them over and over! Knowing that everyone will benefit from having Mensch leadership qualities, I wanted each of my grown-up children to have their own book so that they too can refer to it often and can use the author's valued insights to shape their lives into a joyful, successful and prosperous journey.