Leadership has been written about and discussed in countless ways in the recent past. For the most part it is focused on academic definitions and process. What is often left out is the most crucial element—people. Through stories and my own experience, I examine the importance of human qualities and approaches to team building. Organizations are all about imperfect people working with other imperfect people. In a time when the velocity of change, especially in technology, can seem overwhelming, it is more important than ever for leaders to focus on the human side of their organization and the positive results enjoyed from truly caring about others. I create an overview of the key human elements necessary for effective leadership, in any situation. They are surprisingly simple but often overlooked in the busy day of accomplishing goals and objectives. In many ways they are the very thing that carries the day!

Overview

The book is purposely short for busy leaders who don’t feel they have the time to listen to a book. The average number of pages people read over all kinds of books is about 18 so I focus on getting to the point and keeping the listener's interest through storytelling. I focus on seven different characteristics needed by a leader to get his or her point across and create high performing teams. These characteristics get created over a lifetime by living through your mistakes and successes and learning from them.

Leaders exist in many forms in organizations. It could be a small six person task force, a school, a hospital, an athletic team, or an orchestra. Leaders generally feel very lonely at the top with nobody to connect with for advice on tough or critical decisions. They must rely on their own character and instincts to make the correct decision in a timely manner for the benefit of the entire organization. I discuss how these seven elements work together to create a harmonious dynamic in which all can thrive and get positive gratification about their job.