Leadership Agility: Five Levels of Mastery for Anticipating and Initiating Change (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) [Hardcover]

William B. Joiner (Author), Stephen A. Josephs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0787979139 | ISBN-13: 978-0787979133 | Edition: 1

Leadership Agility is the master competency needed for sustained success in today’s complex, fast-paced business environment. Richly illustrated with stories based on original research and decades of work with clients, this groundbreaking book identifies five levels that leaders move through in developing their agility. Significantly, only 10% have mastered the level of agility needed for consistent effectiveness in our turbulent era of global competition. Written in an engaging, down-to-earth style, this book not only provides a map that guides readers in identifying their current level of agility. It also provides practical advice and concrete examples that show managers and leadership development professionals how they can bring greater agility to the initiatives they take every day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...there is much to learn from this book and I commend the authors for their painstaking analysis" (The Learning Organisation, Vol. 15 No. 1, 2008)

Review

"Leadership Agility is a unique and extraordinarily important contribution to our understanding of what it takes to lead in a world of rapid change and increasing complexity. They show us with vivid real-life examples how leaders grow, that this growth is essential to achieving higher levels of success, and that agility is the new master skill of leadership. I highly recommend this book."
—Jim Kouzes, coauthor of the best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge

"Great coaching on how to develop leadership agility! Probably the most important competency for leaders to have in today's rapidly changing world."
—Marshall Goldsmith, author, Coaching for Leadership, Global Leadership, and The Leader of the Future

"In an era of turmoil and complexity, Leadership Agility is a breakthrough in thinking about leadership competencies. Joiner and Josephs have achieved a creative synthesis of best practices in strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and action learning. Profusely illustrated with clear examples from real-life leaders, this groundbreaking book will be welcomed by both the line leader and the leadership development professional."
—David Giber, senior vice president, consulting and leadership development, Linkage, Inc.

"As executives operating in an often chaotic business environment, we know instinctively that our company's ability to zig and zag is critical. Leadership Agility takes that instinctive understanding and defines it, measures it, and shows us how to develop it in ourselves and others. This is a timely, thought-provoking, and very important book on leadership."
—Betsy Bernard, former president, AT&T

"Leadership Agility gave me the inspiration I needed to respond creatively and decisively to several of my current leadership dilemmas. Many readers are bound to be similarly inspired. The clear, specific guidance it provides makes it a "playbook" that managers and leaders will read closely and return to again and again."
—Bill Torbert, professor, the Boston College Carroll School of Management; author, Action Inquiry: The secret of timely and transforming leadership

"Leadership Agility gives you an insightful, research-based framework that helps you develop as a leader. This book is not about reading and agreeing/disagreeing, it’s about learning and doing."
—Patrick Canavan, senior vice president, of Global Governance, Motorola

"Joiner and Josephs provide a clear, detailed road map that helps pinpoint where you are on your leadership journey and shows you how to get where you want to go."
—Lee Bolman, author, The Wizard and the Warrior; Marion Bloch/Missouri Chair in Leadership, Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City

"Leadership Agility is a remarkable achievement. It will serve as a valuable guide not only for business leaders but for anyone who wants to grow as a person, have more satisfying relationships, and experience greater success in all aspects of life. I heartily endorse this book."
—Jack Canfield, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series and coauthor of The Success Principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be™

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (October 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787979139
• ISBN-13: 978-0787979133
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh and integrated view on leadership development, December 10, 2006

By 

David Chow "Book Guy" (Southern California, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Leadership Agility: Five Levels of Mastery for Anticipating and Initiating Change (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) (Hardcover)

I just finished reading Leadership Agility and was very impressed with the contents of the book. As a leadership development professional who tries to read everything there in the field, I felt the book offered a very fresh and unique look on leadership development that helped frame many of my experiences with developing leaders. I felt the biggest contribution was showing how the "Outside-In" and "Inside-Out" dimensions of leadership development connected and changed within a leader. Because leadership development books tend to emphasize either an Outside-In (competency-based models) or Inside-Out (i.e. authentic leadership/emotional intelligence) approach, it was so rare to see such a thorough treatment of both dimensions of leadership development. Since reading it, I've given out several copies to my leadership development colleagues.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the first "integral leadership" books, December 25, 2006

By 

James T. Puett "JTP" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Leadership Agility: Five Levels of Mastery for Anticipating and Initiating Change (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) (Hardcover)

I met Bill Joiner and Stephen Josephs at the 2006 Organizational Development Network Conference and was truly impressed by both. This book is an important contribution to the field of management and leadership development. In fact, it is one of the first (in my significant reading of the literature in this arena) that makes an attempt (a successful one at that!) in bringing developmental stage theory and integral theory to bear on the topic. Many books on management development can (in my opinion) often be distilled into a 1-2 page synopsis as the concepts are just that simple. However, I cannot say that about Leadership Agility as nearly every page has many nuggets of practical wisdom. It is worth reading the whole thing.

As other reviewers have noted, Leadership Agility brings together both Outside-In (competency-based) development theory with Inside-Out (self knowledge, values, authenticity and Emotional Intelligence) understanding.

The core of the book revolves around a 5-stage developmental theory that is reflective of literature research as well as interviews completed in the last decade by Bill and Stephen. In essence, people go through identifiable developmental stages each with their own strengths and liabilities: Expert, Achiever, Catalyst, Co-Creator, and Synergist. Each of the 5 stages is cross-referenced to these 4 competencies:

*Context-Setting Agility

*Stakeholder Agility

*Creative Agility

*Self-Leadership Agility

What I especially appreciate is the naming of both Awareness and Intent as a progressive unfolding skill in the agile leader. At each level of development, the person in consideration is able to increasingly step back and take a broader perspective on both themselves and the context-situation-world they operate in. In this manner, the leader is 'transcending and including' (in Ken Wilber's terms) the ideas, concepts, observations, values, and ways of being from previous levels. Not going beyond and leaving behind, but rather including and going even further in the ability to see one's self and the situation.

The Intent element is where "action" in traditional terms takes place. After developing a broader and deeper perspective, the leader also develops the ability to take action in more skillful ways. Action then is the ability to engage other stakeholders in realizing THEIR full potential. Moreover, at each succeeding stage, the authors show how the data supports the finding that more developed agile leaders have an enhanced 'world-centric' perspective and concern. The objectives that previously satisfied them (increasing bottom-line results, increasing market-share, professional progress, etc...) are supportive (i.e., adequate but not totally sufficient) of deeper objectives of serving the development of people and the improvement of the environment both inside and outside the organization. This is genuinely inclusive leadership.

After defining leadership and leadership agility, the authors go on in Part Two to explore the competencies of each stage of leadership. Scenarios are used to explain how several leaders model this development, and tables and graphs are used appropriately to educate the reader on the essentials. Examples are drawn from real life experiences of leaders interviewed by Bill and Stephen in both corporate and educational settings.

In Part Three, both assessment and developmental recommendations are given. Of interest is the fact that high performing, agile leaders all share the trait of having a contemplative practice, whether that be meditation, yoga, contemplative prayer, tai-chi, or other practices that involve taking time to reflect on experience as a leader. Contemplative practice is (in my opinion) critical for any leader or person interested in developing further and gaining improved results in work and life.

The appendix is also a well-written explanation of the research and data that went into and support the findings in the book. This part of Leadership Agility really grounds the material and helped me understand how valid the authors' model and suggestions for development really are.

My one hesitation about giving the book 5 stars (and why I did not) is that, as valuable as the Leadership Agility frame work is, it is not truly "integral" as espoused by Ken Wilber and the Integral Institute. Integral would include more of the "whole person" and the authors chose to make this applicable to leaders in business and other organizations. So the content is geared towards leader behaviors specifically. However, I do not believe that is the intention either. So do not let that put you off. I just think that could be more explicitly examined (Bill and Stephen - Any plans for a follow-up book?)

I highly recommend Leadership Agility to those in leadership roles, consultants, coaches, and anyone else who supports others in a leadership capacity. I know it will be a core part of my library going forward as it has changed my own thinking as a consultant and coach of executives and line managers. Thanks Bill and Stephen!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and practical guide to developing leadership, October 31, 2006

By 

Ameeta Kaul "Workplace Coach" (Boston, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Leadership Agility: Five Levels of Mastery for Anticipating and Initiating Change (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) (Hardcover)

This book is a wonderful and easy read.

Whoever heard of a book that imparts so much insightful and serious content in an engaging, story-driven format! In what I know is a rare achievement, it presents leadership, within a developmental context, and makes it accessible, acceptable, and actionable, for leaders in all walks of life. Anybody who has investigated developmental psychology, even minimally, knows that it is complex territory. What complicates it further, is that many people tend to resist its implications. And often, what drives the last nail in, is the lack of a clear model or framework for action.

Joiner and Josephs have busted all three hurdles, in this great book. They invite us, the readers into the evolution of leadership, not in a dry, academic way, but rather by enabling us to trace our own leadership journey. In the course of doing so, we realize that not only have we understood a fairly complex model, but also identified with it in our own lives. Further, we have in our hands, a highly actionable tool that can continue to shine a light on our leadership journey in the future.

For me, the most compelling aspect of the book lies in its clarity; its ability to explain succinctly, what actually grows within us, when we evolve as human beings.

I am very excited about this work and look forward to having it open new doors for many of us, everywhere.