Customer Reviews

Wise Leadership

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Linda McLyman's Wise Leadership reflects her deep commitment to both the practical side of leadership and the emotional/spiritual aspects of the issue. Her voice is authentic, compassionate and no-nonsense, reflecting her vast experience and knowledge. I loved this book for its willingness to be useful, thought-provoking and inspirational. I read it at one sitting and I have picked it up since to re-read and re-consider.

Having particpated in some of Linda McLyman's leadership sessions, I was excited to read her new book. Linda presents 8 fundamental behaviors that underlie wise leadership.

Wise Leadership is simply written, yet it is to the point presenting the values and actions that comprise each leadership behavior. I find the discussions and examples are real and powerful insights into evolved leadership.

I now carry with me the 8 fundamental behaviors as a reminder of my personal goals to ehance my leadership style. I have this book sitting on my desk as an easy reference guide when I feel the need for some leadership inspiration! This is a book that I practice and am sharing with my peers and employees.

Wise Leadership is a must read for anyone in a leadership position or who aspires to be a leader. This book is a very easy read, filled with great thoughts and ideas, some of which may stop you dead in your tracks! This isn't the "same old, same old." This isn't just about leadership, it's about "wise" leadership!

The book identified eight characteristics of wise leaders with examples and thought provoking statements of how these characteristics are manifested in wise leaders. Although the concepts in this book are presented simply they are by no means simple. There is a depth to them forcing the reader to pause and ponder the possibility of what these concepts could do within a life and the depth of character it would take to begin to implement them in everyday life. What spoke to me in this book was that the bases for being a wise leader is emotional maturity and a strong sense of self. Emotionally immature and insecure people could not possibility portray the traits of a wise leader and therefore, it challenges me to do the hard work it takes to become a wise leader. This book tells me that there are no short cuts to the hard personal work I will need to do if I desire to be a wise leader, but it does give me hope and insight into what is possible and necessary to become a wise leader. This will be a book that I will come back to glean more insight from because it is impossible to absorb it all in one reading.

I have been so pleased with my experience of this book by Linda McLyman. As a consultant, it has challenged my thinking. I especially love Ms. McLyman's radical, first person "in the field" testimonies. For example, answering the bellowing CEO, who, in frustration with how things were going, asks, "What do we do now--we're paying you enough!" Her answer? BOLD. "Put away your cell phones and get outside for a walk, come back in two hours". LOVE it!

I understand that the learning Linda imparts with the other "objective" ideas presented are there to help frame (and better present) these raw nuggets of power; this format offers the reader a more palatable dish on both accounts. It's been my experience as a consultant that one needs both perspectives and sorts of presentations/tones in the process of addressing and advising leaders in the business community. In uncovering what "Wise Leadership" is, Linda McLyman offers a excellent balance of idea and concrete example...all cushioned and sweetened finally by the mystery and creativity exhibited in her page formatting--printed word with swaths of visual, empty space on each page. This unique format adds much, I believe. Overall, the book communicates a unique sort of "wise poetry"--a concentrated, distilled language that one can return to again and again for deeper nuances of meaning and usefulness. Bravo!!

Wise Leadership is a collection of thoughts, observations and insights about wise, mature and effective leadership gathered through the course of a long and conscientious career working with, developing and coaching leaders. On the surface the contents seem simple at first. But when one contemplates the exercise of these gems of wisdom one is confronted with how truly deep they are. I will keep this book at my desk and re-read a passage here or there for inspiration and to remind myself of the many valuable lessons contained therein. Some of the themes which particularly resonated with me were focusing on solutions and vision over problems and obstacles, becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable, trying to improve oneself without feeling the need to fix oneself and the fact that leaders must deal with paradoxes and contradictions which often require balancing seemingly opposing and incongruent truths.