Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You [Hardcover]
- With by Mann, John David
- Foreword by Gergen, David
- Afterword by Bennis, Warren
- Author by Myers, Betsy
Editorial Reviews
From Publisher
You are a leader. You do not need to be in a boardroom, on a battlefield, or on a ballot to have a profound impact on everyone around you. In this life-changing book, Betsy Myers--senior adviser to two US presidents and former executive director of Harvard's Center for Public Leadership--demonstrates how each of us has opportunities to "take the lead "every day and shares seven core principles that will enable us to be more productive, engaged, and successful.
From the Oval Office to the playground, cabinet meetings to kitchen tables, in public life and private, Betsy Myers has seen firsthand the emergence of a new leadership model where having all the answers up front is less important than asking the right questions, where strength is derived less from the power you wield than from how you make the people around you feel.
With personal stories from her time in government, in academia, and on the campaign trail, as well as her experiences as a wife, daughter, and mother, Myers helps all of us learn to set the right priorities for ourselves; to connect on a deeper level with the people around us; to uncover problems early when they are still easy to fix; to collaborate with those whose points of view are different from our own; and to push through our fears and live our most authentic lives. Myers demonstrates that more than simply making people "feel "good, this kind of leadership can have a profound effect on the results achieved: it is how initiatives are launched, profits are made, and work gets done.
Personal, practical, and profoundly inspiring, "Take the Lead "is a book for anyone who wonders where all the great leaders have gone. Betsy Myers helps us see that true leadership is all around us--and "within "us.
Reviews
- From Publishers Weekly
- Myers, senior adviser to presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former executive director of the Harvard Center for Public Leadership, hits a homerun with this first work that takes a fresh look at characteristics and traits that enable individuals to motivate, inspire, and influence individuals and groups. Myers explores what constitutes successful modern leadership, focusing on qualities of emotional intelligence, which she maintains are as essential to leadership effectiveness as more tactical management abilities. The author organizes the book around seven leadership traits: authenticity, connection, respect, clarity, willingness to collaborate, an openness to continuous learning, and the courage to do the right thing, themes which she illustrates with examples drawn from her impressive vantage point in government and academia as well as from her own personal life. As instructive as her stories are about Bill and Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Donna Shalala, Rahm Emanuel, and Barack Obama, among others, are her stories about her daughter, sister Dee Dee Myers, and friends, which underscore her point of view that leadership is about being in touch with one's true self, feelings, and passionate engagement. Written in an intelligent but conversational and approachable tone, this inspirational primer is a perfect read for anyone seeking to understand, develop, or unleash his or her genuine leadership potential. (Sept.) Copyright 2011 Reed Business Information.
Quote Reviews
- "A principled yet practical guide to twenty-first-century leadership. Myers's candid, courageous stories offer convincing evidence of what it takes to be an authentic leader."
--BILL GEORGE, author of "True North "and former CEO of Medtronics
- "One of the most topical and well-written business books ever. This book will be given to all leaders in my department, as I believe the concepts Myers discusses are absolutely critical for success in any business."
--BRIAN HIRSHMAN, senior vice president, Southwest Airlines
- "Betsy Myers will help you recognize the leader within you and show you how to use that gift to bring out the best in others. Read this book over and over and absorb its simple truths."
--KEN BLANCHARD, coauthor of the #1 national bestseller "The One Minute Manager "(R) and "Lead with LUV"
- "A home run.... a perfect read for anyone seeking to understand, develop, or unleash his or her genuine leadership potential."
"--Publisher's Weekly"
- "An enjoyable and insightful read for anyone interested in increasing their personal and professional effectiveness."
--"Kirkus Reviews"
- ""Take the Lead "captures essential, practical wisdom, anchored by powerful stories with key insights for any reader who aims to lead."
--RONALD HEIFETZ, founder of the Center for Public Leadership, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- "Betsy Myers, adviser to US presidents and longtime advocate for women, shares her considerable experience and wisdom with everyone who cares about high-level and everyday leadership. This charming, engrossing book will particularly excite and empower women, who will treat this book as their personal mentor and apply Myers's principles to enrich their lives."
--ROSABETH MOSS KANTER, Harvard Business School professor and bestselling author of "Confidence "and "SuperCorp"
- "An 'original' take on leadership sounds absurd. But Betsy Myers has given us just that. This peerless book truly is for everyone. 'Take the lead' means you and it means me; and it means today, not tomorrow."
--TOM PETERS, author of the #1 national bestseller "In Search of Excellence"
- "After forty years of being a boss, I've found "Take the Lead "the most inspirational new tool, not only for leadership but for "life"."
--KAY UNGER, cofounder of Phoebe Couture and Kay Unger New York
- "In working with some of the most powerful leaders in the world, Betsy has had the opportunity to see into their hearts and minds and understand what makes them inspiring and successful leaders. The result is a book filled with insight and wisdom. "
--STEVE BELKIN, chairman, Trans National Group
- "True leadership requires both IQ and EQ--the right combination of head and heart. The leadership principles Betsy Myers illuminates are not only good for business, they are also economic and social imperatives."
--GLORIA CORDES LARSON, president, Bentley University
- "A must-read for current and rising leaders. Betsy Myers approaches leadership in a personal, compelling, and actionable way."
--ELLIOTT MASIE, chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM