A Leader’s Guide to Reflective Practice
This book by Judy Brown connects the themes of renewal and sustainable leadership. It is a practical companion to all of the program’s readings and is used throughout the year to reflect on leadership and innovation.
Good to Great
This book by Jim Collins lays a framework for Level 5 leadership. It outlines what separates “good” from “great” leaders through a number of characteristics, many of which aren’t commonly attributed to strong leaders.
The companion article to this book is Good to Great: How Level 5 Leaders Transform Aging Services by Michelle Holleran, which applies the Level 5 leadership construct to the aging-services field.
Leadership without Easy Answers
This book by Ronald Heifetz lays the groundwork for the program’s year-long focus on adaptive leadership. It sets the context for concepts such as creating a holding environment for problem-solving and the power of informal authority.
The companion article to this book is Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr., which provides an unforgettable example of someone with the courage to address the adaptive societal changes that needed to occur for our country to address racial discrimination.
Presence
This book by Peter Senge and his colleagues has opened an entirely new exploration in which the process of sensing into the future replaces building assumptions that come from past experiences. It it is a conversation among thought leaders that introduces a new model to view and create change within ourselves, organizations and the communities in which we live.
The companion article to this book is The Leader’s New Work: Building Learning Organizations by Peter Senge focuses on the kind of leadership needed to build and maintain learning organizations.
Primal Leadership
This book by Daniel Goleman, Annie McKee, Richard Boyatzis continues the work on Emotional Intelligence pioneered by Goleman. It points to critical issues surrounding a person-directed orientation, including the importance of awareness of our own emotions and their influence on our leadership style.
The companion article to this book is In Praise of the Incomplete Leader by Peter Senge, which encourages leaders to recognize and embrace the ways in which they are incomplete and fill in the gaps with the talents of others.
Sabbath
This book by Wayne Muller stresses the important balance between work and rest and shows us how to create time for renewal to refresh our bodies and minds, restore creativity and regain inner happiness.
The companion article, Leading from Within by Parker Palmer, explores the relationship between one’s inner life and one’s work as a leader, addressing the importance of balance, renewal and sustainability.
Switch
This book by brothers Chip and Dan Heath provides a roadmap for achieving lasting change. By focusing on the “bright spots,” transforming ambiguous goals into concrete behaviors and understanding how to align the rational and emotional mind, Switch provides a leadership framework for affecting change.
The companion article to this book is also In Praise of the Incomplete Leader by Peter Senge, which encourages leaders to recognize and embrace the ways in which they are incomplete and fill in the gaps with the talents of others.
True North
This book by Bill George is a wonderful supplement to a member site visit. It explores notions of authentic leadership, servant leadership and the centrality of ethics.
The companion article to this book is Crucibles of Leadership by Warren Bennis, which focuses on the importance of crucible moments in one’s leadership journey, in particular the lessons learned from such moments – whether positive or negative – and the directions they offer.