Customer Reviews

Unnatural Leadership: Going Against Intuition and Experience to Develop Ten New Leadership Instincts (Jossey-Bass Business & Management)

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The book Unnatural Leaders starts by describing how the world has changed and that management practices from the past will not be effective in the 21st century. The authors use a cleaver narrative style; taking ten commonly accepted leadership traits and providing the antithesis of each trait they describe as instincts. The book provides anecdotal evidence of why today's leaders must do right the opposite from what their past experience and instincts suggest they should do. Unnatural Leadership is not so much a rejection of traditional leadership concepts as it is recognition that leaders today must include in their repertoire of capabilities additional traits that may appear to be counterintuitive from leadership styles of the past. The first section explains the importance of unnatural leadership followed by the challenges for the unnatural leader. The book ends with how unnatural leaders would lead teams and organizations with remedies on how to engage in unnatural acts in a changing and unnatural world.

What a terrific book!

Unnatural Leadership stimulated my thinking on a number of levels. I read it on a cross-country plane trip, and came away feeling:
--A newfound sense of commitment to the work I'm doing;
--Energized about the possibilities of leveraging the principles as they relate to my own business;
--Eager to apply what I learned toward my own personal development efforts.

Not bad for a few hours where I might have otherwise plugged-in and zoned out!

Several things about the book make it stand out from the pack. First, the ideas are compelling and breakthrough. Second, it's written in a way that invites you to read it. Third, it's full of practical advice on how you can apply the principles described.

Most importantly, it's very clear that the authors have had the depth and breadth of hands-on experience to know--really know-- what the heck they're talking about. The book is not about theory. It's about what leaders really do to succeed in today's complex, rapidly changing world, as compared with what they once needed to do when their environments changed at a much slower, more predictable rate.

And there are some interesting surprises in this book. I, myself, am a management consultant, and thought I knew most of what there was to know about the latest-and-greatest ideas on the subject. Not so, I discovered when reading this book. You might say I was a bit humbled.

The bottom line is this. If you're connected to the world of Leadership Development in some way, and are interested in reading something breakthrough, compelling and really useful for a change, I suggest you read this book.

Pat

A good and practical read about the grayer areas of leadership -- particularly apt post Eron...but applicable all the time. As I have advanced in my own leadership position I find the choice between right and right...and I search for inspiration as well as advice I can use. I especially liked the chapter on the dark side...since we all have one !

I found Dotlich and Cairo's book very helpful in navigating the confusing space between what is taught in most leadership books/programs and what I've found works best. They balance up to the minute business smarts with valid academic research and history. GREAT READ.

Want THE definitive handbook on 21st century leadership?
This is it! David Dotlich and Peter Cairo have done a
fine job of ferreting out the qualities that comprise the
"new" type of leadership that's emerging in today's most
successful companies. "Unnatural Leadership" is a
tremendously illuminating book. Plus, it's a plain,
old-fashioned 'good read'. (Believe me, coming from a person
who generally finds business books unremittingly dull,
this is quite a compliment!) It's obvious authors Dotlich
and Cairo love what they do -- and their enthusiasm is
contagious!

Dotlich and Cairo take a unique approach to a popular subject by writing a compelling book about the "unnatural" ways we must behave for effective leadership. Their ideas challenge our traditional leadership concepts and they do it in a very practical and innovative way. An easy to read book it's filled with lots of real examples of effective leaders. An added plus are exercises and practical tips for putting these ideas into immediate action. Definitely worth reading for those intersted in improving their own personal effectiveness as well as those in a position to drive leadership development in their companies.