Leadership development and executive development are pressing issues today. Everyone, it seems, is looking for ways to improve their company's bench strength by improving the leadership capabilities of the people within the organization. But as anyone who has studied the subject can tell you, it is clear that a one-size-fits-all style of leadership does not exist. So how do you go about determining the style of leadership that is best for the leaders in any particular organization?

In their new book The Leader Within: Learning Enough about Yourself to Lead Others, coauthors Drea Zigarmi, Ken Blanchard, Carl Edeburn, and Michael O'Connor suggest that the best place to start is to look at each individual's personality and disposition.

"Leadership boils down to personality types," explains Dr. Zigarmi. "It's important that leaders know their own characteristics. Who you are on the inside governs--to a large extent--how you act and react outside."

According to the authors, knowing yourself is the key to becoming a more effective leader. It all begins by assessing your current leadership style and then comparing that style with alternatives. A central premise of the authors' thinking is that each individual prefers to use certain behavioral styles instead of others. By examining their preferences, leaders can uncover valuable insights for becoming more effective in managing other people.

To help with this examination, Drs. Blanchard and Zigarmi recommend employing a coach and then using that coach as a resource to get honest, unfiltered feedback. This approach is especially beneficial for senior executives in a company who might find it harder and harder to get objective feedback as they assume more powerful positions within an organization. With a coach's help, executives can discover which aspects of their leadership style are working, and which aspects are holding them back. The authors have found that most leaders can be much more effective by employing a wider range of behaviors than they are currently using.

"People create and live in their own realities," explains Dr. Zigarmi. "But change is possible with self-understanding and growth. I am witness to remarkable changes and turnarounds every single day."

After assessing where they stand, the process of leadership growth then focuses on doing the "self" work necessary to become a better leader. By applying the uncovered and less-used aspects of their behavior, leaders can learn new ways to be effective. To grow, Drs. Blanchard and Zigarmi recommend that leaders identify and connect with those over-looked behaviors. By utilizing these behaviors--although uncomfortable at times--leaders can extend their abilities to help themselves and others reach their full potential.

Leaders earn the right to lead by engaging the hearts, minds, and muscle of the people they lead. Too many organizations settle for only engaging their followers' minds and muscle, while neglecting their hearts. Leadership is about engaging and satisfying the needs and motives of followers that results in the followers taking a course of action toward a shared vision.

It is up to leaders to embody sharing, connectedness, and self-integration so they can help others develop the same qualities. Good leadership starts within each individual leader, and is then outwardly demonstrated. Good leadership is founded in a state of being, not just doing. For leaders looking to improve conditions within their organizations, the best place to start is by looking within first.

If you'd like to learn more about using an inside-out approach to improving leadership in your organization, please join The Ken Blanchard Companies for a FREE online Webinar.

The Leader Within: Learning Enough about Yourself to Lead Others
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
9:00 -10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (12:00 -1:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Blanchard Founding Associate Dr. Drea Zigarmi will show you how to develop an effective leadership style that is based on your own personality and disposition.

All leaders are prone to use certain behaviors while avoiding others. To maximize your leadership potential, you must explore acting in ways other than your natural preference. In this free online seminar, you'll begin to learn how.

"Having an understanding of how beliefs, feelings, and values motivate behavior has made a significant impact on the process of change at the WD-40 Company. A different culture has evolved. The learnings in this book helped that process add value to the 'new' WD-40 Company culture."
--Gary Ridge, President and CEO, WD-40 Company

For questions about the book or to order via telephone, call one of our sales consultants at 800 728-6052