Unnatural Leadership

UNNATURAL LEADERSHIP IN A COMPLICATED, INSECURE, AND CONSTANTLY changing world, how do effective leaders in high-performing companies continue to succeed? Are they fearless heroes who have all the right answers-transforming businesses, making fast decisions, and inspiring everyone no matter how complex the situation? Or are they real people who work hard to trust others, acknowledge their own flaws, and challenge conventional thinking? Are leaders who win followers and get things done heroic figures? Or do they actually possess characteristics and practice skills that fall outside the comfort zone of executives steeped in traditional leadership methods? Written by David Dotlich and Peter Cairo- two of the country's top executive coaches and educators-Unnatural Leadership debunks the common notion of the natural leader as a flawless figure. The book describes the truth about being a real leader in a business environment turned upside down by e-commerce, diversity, security concerns, globalization, and matrix structures. Drawing on personal experience working with successful leaders in top-tier companies throughout the world, Dotlich and Cairo identify a style of leadership used by those who succeed in complicated business and people situations, a style that maximizes a leader's strengths and acknowledges weaknesses. Using a variety of tools and techniques based on their proven Action Learning workshops and Action Coaching methods, the authors reveal how to transition from the traditional natural leadership role and develop successful, effective unnatural leadership traits. They recommend simple, practical methods that effective leaders use to get things done, motivate and lead, and deal with their own weaknesses and impulses. Each chapter contains a wealth of tips and techniques to help implement and develop the skills needed to become a new kind of leader. Dotlich and Cairo challenge conventional wisdom about leadership such as be in control and hide your flaws. Instead, they identify ten unnatural acts that effective leaders regularly commit and are, in fact, the best response to an irrational, chaotic, and unpredictable universe. These include: Refuse to be a prisoner of experience Expose your vulnerabilities Create teams that create discomfort Trust others before they earn it Coach and teach rather than lead and inspire Unnatural Leadership is a realistic and truthful road map that provides a practical manual for anyone who longs to be both authentic and effective.