Mastering Leadership (2nd ed.)

Citation

Bullock, J. (2009), "Mastering Leadership (2nd ed.)", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 294-296. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730910949553

Michael Williams updated Mastering Leadership in response to significant recent events shaping the leadership landscape: global terrorism; corporate scandals; and technological advances. The second edition leverages leadership theory presented in the original, whilst updating approaches and counsel to help support development of leadership competencies critical in today's business environment. Recognizing that workers have changed to mirror changes in the world of work, management must also change. Knowledge workers and teams abound in organizations seeking competitive advantage in the global infrastructure of business complete with instant worldwide communication capabilities. Leadership must change to reflect these changes occurring in followers; this is the focus of the second edition of Mastering Leadership. Admitting leadership and management have been debated for centuries, and likely will continue for years to come, Williams highlights leadership theories and models appropriate for rapidly changing environments to help individuals seeking to develop their leadership abilities achieve confidence and competence that will carry them into the future. Mastering Leadership is written for those aspiring or new to leadership, as well as for those determined to update and improve existing skill sets to increase effectiveness. Similarly, students of leadership development and organizational behavior will find rich content in the book from both theoretical and practical application perspectives.

Mastering Leadership is largely written in layman's terms with vocabulary and pace comfortable to a wide array of readership. The book is structured in a building‐block manner, beginning with foundational knowledge upon which subsequent concepts are layered to promote comprehension and aid in application. Each chapter presents a core competency or concept in a manner appealing to linear and visual learners through discussion, examples, and visual imagery that illustrates various concepts and models discussed. A concise and practical summary wraps up the discussion of the chapter's content and is followed with “some points for reflection and discussion” that encourage the reader to consider relevance and benefit in their particular situation. This approach takes the reader on a personal guided leadership development experience beginning with an examination of the need for new leadership mindsets, an introduction of the transformational leader mindset, a thought‐provoking analysis of the baby and the bath water drawing upon teachings of John Adair, Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership model, Sun‐Tzu's The Art of War, and constructs such as sensitive leadership, exemplary leadership, and power and inspiration needed to get rid of the bath water while keeping the baby. The book then progresses to an examination of what mastery of leadership is all about, along with the importance of lifelong learning for anyone aspiring to enhance or develop their leadership competencies. Moving to the organizational realm, the book addresses how to assess and master the organization's boundaries and connections from organic, cross‐functional, and business re‐engineering perspectives, as well as in light of the growing involvement of teams in the workplace – creating new boundaries and connections. The next block of information gets to the heart of the multi‐generational workforce: who can, who will, and who does? This section examines diverse generations, the paradigm conflict, and a civilized approach to busting the boundaries between the old and young guard. Looking forward to the future, Williams next provides insight into transforming organizations and attendant career progression patterns, including a discussion of coaching and mentoring against the backdrop of lifelong learning. This is followed by exploration of decision‐making on the premise that this is what leaders are paid for, and a discussion of the realities of problem analysis and decision making, in addition to providing tools, techniques, and an integrated model for the reader's consideration and use. Taking the business forward, the book moves into a discussion of leading the innovative team in a high‐performance setting, helping readers identify self‐limiting driver tendencies which may stifle individual and group performance. The book ends with a discussion of leading in a brave new world in which transformation is the pathway to success, complete with learning initiatives for those serious about pursuing leadership excellence.

The second edition of Mastering Leadership is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning ways to update leadership skills in the twenty‐first century amidst the backdrop of constant change and technological advancements. Drawing on classic leadership theory and models, as well as Michael Williams' extensive leadership and consulting experience, the book is a quick, enjoyable, and informative read that will change perspectives of what is needed to succeed in the future of business in the global marketplace.