The Ascent of a Leader: How Ordinary Relationships Develop Extraordinary Character and Influence - Hardcover

Bill Thrall; Bruce McNicol; Ken McElrath

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0787947660 ISBN 13: 9780787947668

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 1999

Synopsis

A Leadership Network Publication

Become the leader people are proud to follow by opening yourself tothe influences that develop character: Anduring relationships withfriAnds, family, and God.Solidly based on Christian values, thispractical, visionary, and hope-filled book guides readers through astep-by-step process for developing both personal character and thenetwork of important relationships that enable character to winout, even in the face of setbacks, adversity, and temptations totake short cuts. Leadership is about character, the authors assert,and character weaves values like integrity, honesty, and selflessservice into the fabric of our lives, organizations, andcultures.

The Ascent of a Leader is written for ordinary people-mothers,husbands, bosses, secretaries, pastors, teachers, and students-whowant to develop extraordinary character, find and follow God's planfor their lives, and lead others where they need to go. We all haveinnate leadership potential. To maximize it, we must do much morethan develop performance-based skills, the authors assert. We mustconsciously choose who and what we allow to influence us, find anddevelop our humility, and build Anduring relationships withcolleagues, family, friAnds, and God. They offer engaging real-lifeexamples to show how we can grow into our true potential as leadersand inspire us to "make a difference in the 21st century-in ourfamilies, our communities, our companies, our government, and evenour world."

With a foreword by Ken Blanchard.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Become the Leader People Want to Follow

You can become a leader that people want to follow by opening yourself to the influ- ences that develop character: enduring relationships with friends, family, and God. This compelling guide leads you through a process by which you can cultivate extraordinary character and influence in your home, your company, your community, and every other arena of your life.

"The Ascent of a Leader is a beautifully honest, deeply caring, and positively uplifting book. Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and Ken McElrath show us with their compelling stories and inspiring message how magic happens when leaders of character nurture an environment filled with grace. This book embraces you, and once you've read it you won't ever forget it. In a world filled with so much cynicism and fear, this is one book that definitely will fill your heart and soul with hope and joy."
—Jim Kouzes, coauthor, The Leadership Challenge and Encouraging the Heart; chairman, Tom Peters Group/Learning Systems

"The Ascent of a Leader reiterates a truth that is timeless: "No man is an island." Through well-chosen parables and real-life examples, Thrall, McNicol, and McElrath offer valuable lessons in interdependence and show us how to engender 'trust, creativity, and hope'—in ourselves and others."
—Jon Kyl, U.S. senator from Arizona

"The Ascent of a Leader fits in the fine lineage of Greenleaf's Servant Leadership and De Pree's Leadership Is an Art. A must-read for leaders who know and leaders who wonder about a deeper foundation and a higher pinnacle. Transcendent, transparent,and authentic."
—Daryl C. F. Wilson, general manager manufacturing, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc.

"Most leaders are familiar with and thrive on challenges and risks. The Ascent of a Leader deals with the greatest risks any of us can face: humility, transparency, and sacrifice. This book will challenge you in unique ways and help you view your calling with a new perspective."
—Jack Alexander, CEO, WorldTravel Partners

From the Inside Flap:

THE ASCENT OF A LEADER

Are you the kind of leader that others want to follow? Climbing the corporate, political, or organizational ladder is a driving passion for many of us. But too often during our ascent, we compromise our character to reach a performance goal, forgetting that lasting, positive influence depends on the kind of person we become, not simply on the titles, power, or wealth we've achieved. While many leaders work hard to develop performance-based skills, relatively few are intentional about developing character. In fact, many simply do not know how.

Solidly based on spiritual values, The Ascent of a Leader presents a process for developing character and influence in the context of community amid the kind of relationships and envi- ronment where character wins out, even in the face of setbacks and against the temptations to take shortcuts. Character is crucial, the authors assert, because it "empowers our capacities while keeping them in check. It makes the difference between those who abuse power and those who steward it well. It weaves values like integrity, honesty, and selfless service into the fabric of our lives, organizations, and cultures."

Written for ordinary people who want to develop extraordinary character and influence, this practical, visionary, and hope-filled book guides us up the "long ladder" to significance, as contrasted to the "short ladder" that most of us know. On the short ladder, we develop skills and abilities. But on the long ladder, success depends on charac-ter growth, nurtured in a community where people find fulfillment. If you want to find and follow God's plan for your life and lead others where they need to go, this book offers engaging real-life examples to show you how. You can grow into your true potential, becoming one of the leaders inspired to "make a difference in the twenty-first century in our families, our communities, our companies, our government, and even our world." It's time to create a legacy that will last. Embrace this call.

About this edition

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0787947660
• ISBN 13: 9780787947668
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224