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

by William B. Joiner (Author), Stephen A. Josephs (Author)
Key Phrases: connective awareness, leadership agility, agility competencies, New York, North America, African American (more...)

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™

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (October 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787979139
• ISBN-13: 978-0787979133
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 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 (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,694 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 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 (REAL NAME)

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!

9 of 9 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 (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely valuable, actionable framework for leadership development, November 21, 2006

By	Matt Brubaker - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The authors present a stage-theory of leadership development in line with the work of Jane Loevinger and Bill Torbert. What distinguishes Leadership Agility, however, is a thorough examination of the supportive capacities that underlie maturing leadership skills at the various stages of development. Through a variety of case studies and other examples, the authors are able to demonstrate the way these supportive capacities develop and mature as a leader moves from one stage to the next.

But, Leadership Agility is more than a psychological theory. It's an actionable framework, immediately applicable to coaching and team development work. It compellingly portrays leadership agility as a seamless blend of "being" and "doing." Readers of Ken Wilber will also find Leadership Agility to be a relevant contribution to the emerging dialogue about integral leadership.