Book description
Leaders face numerous critical crossroads in their careers, moments
that can provide extraordinary learning and growth opportunities or
ensnare them and prevent further development. The good thing about these
passages is that they're predictable, and with proper preparation,
leaders not only can survive them to become stronger but can use these
experiences to enhance their leadership, compassion, and effectiveness.
This book lays out thirteen specific “leadership passages” based on
research, interviews, and coaching of senior executives in such
well-known companies as Johnson & Johnson, Novarits, Intel, GE, and
Bank of America. For each passage, the authors describe what to expect,
how the passage constitutes a choice point, and what effective leaders
do to navigate and grow from the challenge. Some of the passages
include: moving into a leadership role for the first time, dealing with
significant failure for which you are responsible, derailing/losing your
job, being acquired/merging, losing faith in the system, understanding
the importance of children, family and friends, and personal upheavals
such as divorce, illness, and death. The authors provide a wealth of
practical tools and techniques to improve your leadership, along with
real-life examples from recognizable leaders and breakthrough ways in
which companies can use the concept of leadership passages to grow
talent. David L. Dotlich is former executive vice president of
Honeywell International, author of Why CEOs Fail, Unnatural Leadership,
and Action Coaching from Jossey-Bass, and CEO and managing partner of
CDR International, a unit of Mercer Delta Consulting. He is an educator
and coach to the top leaders in the world, including executives of
Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Pfizer, Washington Mutual, Nike, and many more.
James L. Noel, principal of CDR International, is the former director
of executive education for General Electric's Crotonville.
Norman Walker, until recently worldwide head of human resources of
Novartis, has also served as the top human resource officer for Grand
Met, Kraft Foods, and Ford Motor Company.
