Leadership Isn't For Cowards: How to Drive Performance by Challenging People and Confronting Problems [Hardcover]

Mike Staver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2012

A no-nonsense guide to driving performance while still maintaining a great place to work

Leadership Isn't For Cowards offers straightforward steps to leading courageously and practical tips for driving performance. Courageous leadership means toughening your approach by being rigorous in the application of your values through the company culture. It means confronting and challenging people, and not letting them get away with being less than you know they can be. The path to courageous leadership has six components: Accept Your Current Circumstances, Take Responsibility, Take Action, Acknowledge Progress, Commit to Lifelong Learning, and Kindle Relationships. These manageable steps include:

• Identify the area in your business or life where a gap exists between your current reality and your desired reality
• Align yourself with a person or a group of people who can commit to holding you accountable for closing the gap
• Make a specific commitment to the outcome(s) you want and assign dates to them

With courageous leadership, you'll create a culture and a mindset that encourages and demands excellence! Follow these steps to bring out the best in your employees and lead your company to significant success.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Offers straightforward steps to leading courageously and practical tips for driving performance.' (Personalfuhrung, August 2012)

From the Inside Flap

You are a leader. Maybe you lead a team of two or three people, a department, or even a company. Whatever the scope of your leadership, the pressure is on. You have been entrusted with the great responsibility of messing with people's lives. Every decision you make, regardless of whether it creates tremendous profits for your company, can breed discontent among your subordinates—which in turn, can spell your demise. Every day is a tightrope walk between fiscal results and their human consequences. Are you able to keep your balance?

Leadership Isn't for Cowards offers straightforward, practical advice for leading courageously and driving performance—while also creating a great place to work. Courageous leadership means toughening your approach by being rigorous in the application of your values through the company culture. It means confronting and challenging people, and not letting them get away with being less than you know they can be. The manageable steps on the path to courageous leadership include:

• Identifying your core values and evaluating the extent to which you are leading in alignment with them
• Discovering where you are allowing circumstances to define you and limit your influence
• Learning to overcome your own negativity by changing your external behaviors
• Utilizing recognition and acknowledgement to elicit higher performance from your followers

With courageous leadership, you'll create a culture and a mind-set that encourages and demands excellence! Follow these steps to bring out the best in your employees and lead your organization to significant success.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 230 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (June 26, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118176839
• ISBN-13: 978-1118176832
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Meet Mike Staver

Mike Staver is a business coach and speaker with a rare ability to zero in on the fears that prevent leaders from doing what they need to do. He confronts them with the truths they're pretending not to know and provides the "swift kick" they need to start making the quick decisions that get results--a necessity for survival in a global economy.

His clients--organizations in industries ranging from real estate to hospitality to government to financial institutions--appreciate and respond to his gut-level honesty and his gift for cutting through the noise and getting to the heart of the matter. His solutions help clients enjoy positive business results, free up the energy that's been drained by creative avoidance of action, and fully realize their potential as leaders.

Mike's educational background--a Bachelor's in Business and a Masters in Psychology--has led to a focus on the vital importance of results and a deep understanding of the behaviors that lead to both self-sabotage and success.

His depth of knowledge combined with his high energy, authenticity and sense of humor makes him one of the most inspiring speakers you will ever meet. His uncanny ability to make complex principles simple and memorable makes the experience one that will have lasting impact.

Mike is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation held by fewer than 10% of Professional Speakers.

Leadership Isn't For Cowards is Mike's newest book. Other published works include the book 'Do You Know How To Shut Up? And 51 other life lessons that will make you uncomfortable' as well as a chapter in 'Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul'. Mike created the audio series 'Tips in Twenty' and 'Tips in Ten' which are available by download. He is also creator of the training series '21 Ways to Defuse Anger and Calm People Down.'

Mike is available nationwide for speaking engagements and corporate advisement.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book June 26, 2012

By Randy Pennington

Format:Hardcover

Mike Staver has written a timely and timeless book about the importance of courage for successful leadership. This book is filled with Mike's practical wisdom and refreshing candor. If you have felt that you are not quite up to the challenge of leading in today's uncertain world, Leadership Isn't for Cowards will give you the clarity of focus that leads to confidence and courage. Prepare to have some sacred cows cooked over an open flame, and pick up this book.

Randy G. Pennington
Author, Results Rule!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Small Chapters, Big Statements September 18, 2012

By Kathleen M. Anderson

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mike is straightforward and challenging. He wrote this book from the standpoint of the leader he challenges you to become. He does not apologize for asking you to look at yourself in the mirror and be honest about the reflection. Unlike other leadership books I've read that talk about strategy or conflict resolution, Mike talks directly to you and asks you if you can really handle the job.

I haven't followed the acronyms to a T, but since opening this book a few months ago I've had a hard time finishing it because each chapter is filled with such good information. He provides thought provoking questions that address your style of leadership. He gives simple exercises to practice improving. I have thought about Mike's words every day since opening this book. I really can't recommend a better leadership book and truly, in a few months time, I've seen the difference in the way I approach situations and how the team respects me. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially to folks who don't have strong leadership mentors in their current role.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the real stuff!!! September 12, 2012

By Rosey

Format:Hardcover

This book is truly a reality check. It does not matter if you are new to leadership, in the midst of rising to the top or have been at the top for years. This book will ground you in what is important in your role as a leader of your organization. Certainly applies to private sector and public sector leadership. Should be a prerequisite for every elected official from local to federal ranks. Mikes humor and easy writing style keeps you engaged and forces you to take on the excercise of self learning at the end of each chapter. I bought 25 books for all of my leaders in my organization. Critical reading for developing and stuck leaders.