Authentic Leadership: Courage in Action (Jossey Bass Public Administration Series) (Hardcover)

by Robert W. Terry (Author) "Just the other day the enigma slipped through my door again..." (more)
Key Phrases: human action moves, leadership enigma, orienting metaphors, Action Wheel, United States, Reflective Leadership Center (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A fresh perspective on bringing people together in organizations to make something different happen. This author grapples courageously with the concept of courage and related notions about fear and violence, sacrifice and scapegoating, imitation and exposure.... He sees leadership as a remedy to we-they polarities; as an antidote to imitating, and thus, becoming, what we fear; and as the instrument, in John Gardner's recent words, of 'wholeness incorporating diversity.' The premise of this book, and its promise too, is that hard thinking occurs somewhere near the center of the human experience called leadership— and that for leaders, to propel ourselves 'beyond the comfort zone' is the beginning of wisdom. Bob Terry is well beyond the comfort zone in this revealing, often self-revealing, book. Leaders and readers— and especially those who are both— have reason to be grateful for this example of authenticity in action." — from the foreword by Harlan Cleveland

Product Description
Leadership, says Robert W. Terry, is a type of action. Authentic Leadership shows how this shift in perspective carries enormous consequences for consideration of courage, vision, ethics, and spirituality as they relate to leadership. Terry show that the central organizing principle of leadership is authenticity and how authenticity and action joined together form a sure foundation for effective leadership.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 315 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1st edition (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155542547X
• ISBN-13: 978-1555425470
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #395,830 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Takes us from past perspectives to leadership in action., May 18, 1999

By A Customer

Terry's book is an excellent summary of the traditional ideas about leadership combined with a new call for "authenticity." "Authentic Leadership" is a solid book for all interested in leadership and leadership development--scholars, students and practitioners. Thumbs up!

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book, December 15, 2007

By	Bojinka Bishop "Professor" (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Terry was writing about leadership before it became a fad, and I believe, his book contains some fundamental ideas about leaders and leadership that are crucially important. This book is not a typical skim-it business book. It is not a personality- or trait- based leadership book. It does not frame leadership as a quick fix. Thus, I think the book requires some concentration and thought to appreciate. I believe this is a book for those who believe that leadership should mean more than getting others to follow. It addresses what good and ethical leaders need to do - and, his sub-title zeroes in on it -- that takes real courage, not just charisma. I like this book because it sets out a values-based approach to leadership.

2 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor fare indeed, March 26, 2004

By A Customer

This book is the surest evidence yet that Mr Terry has way too much time on his hands, following his abject failure to drive the innovation group to a respectable position in the market. I would be tempted to classify Mr Terry's book with other quick fixes of the genre, such as the one minute manager. There is no doubting Mr Terry's drive and ambition, nor his ability to galvanise a group of friends to answer to his beck and call, but these are not necessarily hallmarks of a good management ethos. On the contrary they are, in the case of Mr Terry, indicative of a man who will drive forward in the face of both good business and management sense, to the ultimate detriment of a series of companies and his own personal reputation.

Authentic leadership is the poorest case yet made for the value of this genre, and its 80s jargon and jingoism only lends itself to the overall unsatisfactory feel one derives from turning its pages.