This book is one of the best in its genre
Real Leadership by George Barna (in collaboration) with Bill Dallas is one of those extremely well-written and well-intentioned books that can very positively impact our lives by teaching us to assess and take charge of situations – any time, anywhere and every where, but particularly at the workplace. It is understandable that the lessons learned and the advantages garnered will percolate and better our everyday existence.
The 30 distinguished leaders who are featured in this single volume have proved themselves many times over at all levels at the employment desks. They have consequently been called to stand at the podium and reveal the reasons for their exemplarily successful corporate lives, about how they managed to identify their opportunities, managed to convince and get the others to accept their viewpoint and make common cause towards achieving a common goal.
The back cover interestingly refers to the book as the ultimate leadership conference in a single fascinating volume with brand-new insights from an elite group of leaders as they dialogue, debate, and even disagree about the most important things every successful leader needs to know.
The subjects discussed include: defining what makes someone a leader, knowing how to identify, communicate, and get commitment to vision, touchstones for leading effectively by knowing what to look for and how to measure performance, earning and maintaining people’s trust, developing character traits that serve people and empower self, establishing and retaining the moral authority to lead, knowing how power is derived and how to use it appropriately.
Some of the people who share intelligence are John Ashcroft, the former US attorney general and highly reputed professor of law, Colleen Barrett, former president of Southwest Airlines, listed among the most powerful businesswomen in the US, Ben Carson, the director of pediatric neurosurgery at the John Hopkins Hospital, Newt Gingrich who served as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Wilson Goode who was the first African American mayor of Philadelphia, Lou Holtz who was head coach for football teams NCAA and NFL, Laurie Beth Jones, a bestselling author and speaker with a spiritual perspective, Don Soderquist of Wal-Mart, Hollywood film producer Ralph Winter who has produced such blockbusters as the X-Men, Fantastic Four and the Star Trek series.
If these truly inspired sources are not enough, there is Michael Franzese from Brooklyn in New York, who is the son of the reputed Colombo under boss, John Sonny Franzese. Michael joined the Colombo crime family as a young adult, rose to become a capo regime (captain) in the family and masterminded lucrative gasoline bootlegging rackets. Fortune listed him at number eighteen on the list of wealthy and powerful mafia bosses. Michael gave up crime and created a foundation to help the youth escape or avoid the clutches of gambling and drugs.
A good boss is one who is edifying, who is interested in your future and your growth and your career, and whom you admire and respect and appreciate because he admires and respects and appreciates you. This book is one of the best in its genre.
Real Leadership by George Barna with Bill Dallas
Jaico Publishing House
Price Rs.295