The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility: Thriving Organizations - Great Results

A leader's biggest challenge is to inspire in others their enthusiastic engagement with a shared goal, whether to launch a new product, advance an important cause, improve financial performance, or resolve global challenges. And gaining enthusiasm often requires leaders to forge consensus on a path forward with stakeholders who have very different ideas. How can we increase success? Distinguished leadership educator Marilyn Gist says the critical element is leader humility - a deep regard for the dignity of others.

Leadership is a relationship, and humility is the foundation for all healthy relationships. Gist offers a model of leader humility derived from three questions people wonder about with any leader: Who are you? Where are we going? Do you see me? She explores each of these questions in depth, as well as the six key qualities of leader humility: a balanced ego, integrity, a compelling vision, ethical strategies, generous inclusion, and developmental focus.

Much of this book draws on Gist's interviews with top leaders of a dozen organizations, including the Mayo Clinic, Costco, REI, Alaska Airlines, and Starbucks. Their direct voices and experience enrich Gist's narrative. And the forward and a guest chapter are written by Alan Mulally, the legendary leader who brought Ford back from the brink of bankruptcy after the 2008 financial collapse and whose work is an exemplar of leader humility. The collective wisdom in this book shows us the extraordinary power of leader humility.

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