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Leader Within, The: Learning Enough About Yourself to Lead Others

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Product Author Bios

About the Authors

DR. DREA ZIGARMI is a respected management consultant, bestselling author, and powerful trainer and motivational speaker. He co-authored Leadership and The One Minute Manager, and has co-developed several Blanchard Training and Development products, including its Leader Behavior Analysis instruments.

Few people have impacted the day-to-day management of people and companies more than KEN BLANCHARD. His phenomenal best-seller, The One Minute Manager (co-authored with Spencer Johnson), has sold 9,000,000+ copies and been translated into 25 languages. He leads the Ken Blanchard Companies®, a global leader in workplace learning, productivity, leadership, and team effectiveness.

MICHAEL O'CONNOR co-founded and directs the Center for Managing by Values. He specializes in strategy, behavior, and process-driven performance. With Ken Blanchard, he co-authored Managing by Values.

DR. CARL EDEBURN has spent 25 years consulting on key management and leadership issues. A certified trainer for the Ken Blanchard Companies, he has co-developed several Blanchard instruments.


© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

The first step towards becoming an outstanding leader: know yourself. This book will help you understand yourself as a leader... so you can change, grow, and become powerfully more effective. Authored by four world-renowned leadership experts, including the legendary Ken Blanchard, it draws on an extraordinary seven-year research study on how successful corporate executives exert influence. The authors begin by presenting self-change as your must urgent leadership challenge, and showing how your values and personality govern your actions, even when you don't realize it. You'll examine the inner self you're currently bringing to your "moments of influence," discovering how your disposition, values, beliefs, and persona are contributing right now to your success -- or failure. Throughout, the authors present proven, values-based approaches to leadership in both group settings and one-to-one contexts.

Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars This is a useful book, November 16, 2005
This review is from: The Leader Within: Learning Enough About Yourself to Lead Others (Hardcover)
This book can be useful to any man or woman who already is, or wants to become, an effective, if not wise, leader of other people.

The book is well named; it is about self-knowledge as a prerequisite to effective leadership of others. It is written to be used, more than read and returned to a shelf. My copy is well-marked with notes and highlighting. If you're looking for a cleverly written and poetically worded book, this is not it. This sits between a textbook and an everyday quick reference guide.

While the authors are well-credentialed management scientists and consultants, they have not included a lot of data or pithy stories about the effective and ineffective leaders they have helped over the decades. There are plenty of charts and diagrams for the major subjects, however. Overall, they have written a useful overview of the emotional, psychological and behavioral inclinations and choices upon which we base our leadership decisions and actions - with tips... Read more
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Some gems, but over-complicated by "academic" jargon, January 5, 2009
By 
Jin Wan (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Leader Within: Learning Enough About Yourself to Lead Others (Hardcover)
This book is not bad per se. It covers useful points such as knowing yourself to lead, differentiating between your natural predispositions and your projected self, DISC model to help understand your predispositions, a small smattering of useful stories to illustrate the complexities in personality and behaviour (more would've been great) etc.

Unfortunately, it is shrouded in academia speak so it's almost like reading a university text book or academic journals. A simplified version of this book - while it may seem "dumbed down" to academics - will actually be much more practical and useful.

What I ended with up after reading this book, is a lot of definitions, terms, jargon, but found very little that is practical in real life. Pity, it could've been better. I'm surprised Ken didn't make use of his writing techniques from "Who Moved My Cheese?", which is so much more practical.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Leading others by understanding yourself, June 23, 2008
By 
Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Leader Within: Learning Enough About Yourself to Lead Others (Hardcover)
Ken Blanchard is the draw in this group-authored book, even if he doesn't get top billing. The author of The One-Minute Manager and his co-writers Drea Zigarmi, Michael O'Connor and Carl Edeburn explain how to understand and shape your personality to become the kind of leader or manager you want to be. Their book is not a tract on cognitive science but rather a business text with useful exercises and insights - in particular, the notion of personality as layered, complex and malleable rather than hard and unchanging. The authors' charts are a bit of a hodgepodge; they occasionally strain for an image and their presentation of ideas can be confusing. However, getAbstract recommends this book to Blanchard fans and others who are striving to enhance their charisma and brush up their leadership style.
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Online Sample Chapter

What It Takes to Be a Good Leader

Table of Contents

Preface.
Acknowledgments.
1. Leaders and Change.
    Leaders.
      The Importance of Leadership.
      The Conundrum.
      Two Examples.
      Questions to Ponder.
      Bob's Self-Perceptions.
      Others' Perceptions of Bob.
      Antonio's Self-Perceptions.
      Others' Perceptions of Antonio.
      The Four Tragedies.
      The Abetting System.
      Kissing Off the Organization.
      The Leadership Vacuum.
      The Covenant.
    Onions.
      The Layered Self.
      The Leadership Onion.
      Peeling the Onion.
      The Challenge of Discomfort.
      Flavoring the Stew.
      The Michelangelo View.
    Change.
      Changing Ourselves.
      Creating Reality.
      Beliefs as the Basis of Reality.
      Language and Reality.
      Clinging to Accepted Realities.
      Confining Yourself.
      Fear and the Shadow Self.
      Me and My Shadow.
      Masculine/Feminine Shadows.
      Fear--Your Emotional Brakes.
      It's All Part of the Game.
      Alternative Realities and Behaviors.
      Working on the "Self".
      Personal "Why" of Leadership.
      Change and Failure.
    Summary.
    Endnotes.
2. Personality and Context.
    Personality.
      In a Nutshell.
      A Model for Experience.
      Positive and Negative Response Modes.
      Behavior Is the Medium.
      Definition of Personality.
      Personality Is Dynamic.
      Personality Is Influenced by Life History.
      Diversity Within Pattern.
      Subdivision of Personality: Disposition, Values, and Persona.
      The Disposition-Values-Persona Connection.
      The Leadership Onion and Personality.
    Context.
      Definition of Context.
      Definition of Role Behavior.
      Organizational Philosophy and Values Are a Basis for Role.
      Role Behavior as the Basis for Leadership.
      Importance of the Role Concept.
      The Leader Behavior Subset.
      Context Versus Situation.
      One-to-One Context.
      Group Context.
      Organizational Context.
      Need to Know Yourself.
    Summary.
    Endnotes.
3. Preference and Disposition.
    Preference.
      Unconscious Preference.
      Roots of the Idea.
      Definition of Preference.
      Definition of Disposition.
      "Wired" and "Acquired" Disposition.
      Neither Good Nor Bad Disposition.
      DISC Pattern.
      Familiar Ways of Responding.
      Modes of Responding.
      Flight Versus Fight.
      Accept Versus Control.
      Extroversion Versus Introversion.
      Direct Versus Indirect.
      Perceive Versus Judge.
      Risk-Taking Versus Risk-Assessing.
      Optimistic Versus Pessimistic.
      Change-Oriented Versus Continuity-Oriented.
      Summary of Basic Response Modes.
    Couples.
      The "D" Direct Controller.
      The "I" Direct Accepter.
      The "S" Indirect Accepter.
      The "C" Indirect Controller.
    Fundamental Principles.
      DISC Principle #1.
      DISC Principle #2.
      DISC Principle #3.
      DISC Principle #4.
      DISC Principle #5.
      DISC Principle #6.
      The Platinum Rule.
    Summary.
    Endnotes.
4. Beliefs and Points of View.
    Beliefs.
      Beliefs as Building Blocks.
      Importance of Beliefs.
      The Power of Beliefs.
      Mechanism of Self-Change.
      The Concept of Belief.
    Beliefs and Values.
      What Is a Value?
      Values Criteria.
      Values Process.
      Types of Values.
      Value Systems.
      The Value of Values.
    Points of View.
      Self/Other Focus.
      Rights/Responsibility Focus.
    The Traditionalist Point of View.
      Key End Values--Social Ends.
      Key Means Values--Social Means.
      Self-Esteem Conflict.
      General Perspective.
      Specific Issues.
      Work Style.
      Growth Actions.
      Summary of the Traditionalist.
    The Challenger Point of View.
      Key End Values--Personal Ends.
      Key Means Values--Personal Means.
      Self-Esteem Conflict.
      General Perspective.
      Specific Issues.
      Work Style.
      Growth Actions.
      Summary of the Challenger.
    The Inbetweener Point of View.
      Key End Values--Personal Ends.
      Key Means Values--Social Means.
      Self-Esteem Conflict.
      General Perspectives.
      Specific Issues.
      Work Style.
      Growth Activities.
      Summary of the Inbetweener.
    The Synthesizer Point of View.
      Key End Values--Social Ends.
      Key Means Values--Personal Means.
      Self-Esteem Conflict.
      General Perspectives.
      Specific Issues.
      Work Style.
      Growth Activities.
      Summary of the Synthesizer.
      Caveats to Points of View.
    Endnotes.
5. Perceptions and Persona.
    Perceptions.
      Psychological Bifocals.
      An Example of Lateness.
      An Example of Support.
      Connections to Self.
      General Research Findings.
    Icebergs.
      Self Versus Others' Perceptions.
      Self-Perception.
      Others' Perception of the Disposition-Values Connection.
      The So Whats.
      The Merger.
      The Misunderstood Challenger.
      Relaters as Inbetweeners.
      Introverts as Traditionalists.
      Controllers as Synthesizers.
    Persona.
      Self-Esteem.
      Negative and Positive Modes Revisited.
      The Esteem, Disposition, and Values Connection.
      The Definition of Persona.
      Implications of Persona.
      Role-Dependent Persona.
      Self-Indulgent Persona.
      The "So What" of Persona.
    Summary.
    Endnotes.
6. Behaviors and Situations.
    Behaviors.
      Managers Versus Leaders.
      Viva la Difference.
      A Prescription.
      Leadership Defined.
      Leadership Style Defined.
      Two Basic Elements of Influence Behavior.
      Directing, Structuring, Focusing Behavior.
      Supporting, Collaborating, Inspiring Behavior.
      An Example Across Context.
      A Three-Context Responsibility.
      Seven Is Not Magic.
      Situational Leadership II.
      No "Single Best" Leadership Style.
      The One-to-One Context.
      Situational Leadership in a One-to-One Context.
      Development Level.
      Subdivisions of Competence.
      Subdivisions of Commitment.
      Development Levels Are Somewhat Sequential.
      Regressive Cycle.
      Development Level Is Task or Goal Specific.
    Styles.
      A General Concept of Style 1-Directing.
      A General Concept of Style 2-Supporting.
      A General Concept of Style 3-Coaching.
      A General Concept of Style 4-Delegating.
    Situations.
      When to Use Style 1 in a One-to-One Context.
      When to Use Style 2 in a One-to-One Context.
      When to Use Style 3 in a One-to-One Context.
      When to Use Style 4 in a One-to-One Context.
      Does Situational Leadership Work?
      Development and Regressive Cycles.
      Development Cycle.
      Regressive Cycle.
      Using Situational Leadership Theory.
    Summary.
    Endnotes.
7. Vision and Learning.
    Vision.
      Dimensions of Vision.
      Purpose.
      Values.
      Image.
      Gravity.
      Starfish.
    Learning.
      The "So What" of Personality on Leadership Behavior.
      Disposition and Leadership Behaviors.
      "D-ness" and Leadership Behavior in a One-to-One Context.
      "I-ness" and Leadership Behavior in a One-to-One Context.
      "S-ness" and Leadership Behavior in a One-to-One Context.
      "C-ness" and Leadership Behavior in a One-to-One Context.
      Values and Leadership Behaviors.
      Leader Values and Follower Perceptions of Leader Behaviors.
      Persona and Values Point of View.
      Traditionalists and the Organization.
      Morale and Leader Values.
      Challenger Point of View and Follower Morale.
      Inbetweener Point of View and Follower Morale.
      Synthesizer Point of View and Follower Morale.
      The End of the Beginning.
    Epilogue.
      The Expression of Character.
      Definition of Character.
      Character on a Personal Level.
      Endnotes.
Bibliography.
Index.

 
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