ABSTRACT

In this rigorously researched book Stephen Barden presents compelling evidence that top leaders learn from a very early age to 'do business with the world' by using their power and authority to partner with it, rather than impose themselves on it. Based on interviews with military, corporate and educational leaders, How Successful Leaders Do Business with Their World offers powerful insight into how these findings can be applied in practice.

The book illustrates how the assumptions leaders formed as children, and the way they learned to 'make space for themselves', directly links to the way they exercise their leadership as adults. Barden uses these findings and insights, as well as studies from his own corporate leadership career and coaching practice, to describe a set of common assumptions held by successful leaders. The book clearly outlines several key concepts - the Navigational Stance, the Partnering Stance, the Oppositional Stance and the Navigational Compass - illustrates each with relevant examples and makes recommendations for applying these insights in practice.

How Successful Leaders Do Business with Their World will be a valuable asset for coaches, leaders, HR and L&D professionals, and all professionals working with leaders.

To learn more about the author and his work, please visit stephenbarden.org.

chapter |4 pages

Prologue

On the waterfront — with lemon cream cookies

chapter |3 pages

Introduction

What this book is about

section |38 pages

Section I

chapter 1|7 pages

Choosing our leaders blind

chapter 3|15 pages

Discovering the Navigational Stance

chapter 4|8 pages

The Navigational Compass

section Section II|53 pages

The compass points

chapter 5|3 pages

Navigation

chapter 6|5 pages

Pragmatism

Do the best possible

chapter 7|11 pages

Triangular challenge

chapter 8|6 pages

Socialized decision-making

chapter 9|4 pages

No attachment to failure

chapter 11|4 pages

Alertness to constituents

chapter 12|4 pages

Holism — see all the linkages

chapter 13|4 pages

Direction — not fixed target or dogma

chapter 14|5 pages

Mentors

section Section III|21 pages

Introduction to section III

chapter 15|6 pages

Our children

chapter 16|6 pages

Choosing leaders

chapter 17|7 pages

Changing leaders