The ABCs of Leadership: The Simple Elegance of Getting to the Top... and What It Takes to Stay There

Almost every study on leadership in the last few decades suggests that there is a global crisis when it comes to leadership. Many don't even know what it takes to be a great leader. What makes organizations like Genentech, Whole Foods, S.C. Johnson and Edward Jones the premier companies in the country to work for according to Fortune and the Great Places to Work Institute?

The author contends these places are consider great places to work because, among other things, they have great leaders who know what they are doing. A New York Times study revealed that 25% of employees reported being driven to tears in the workplace. 50% of those individuals in the study call their place of work a place of verbal abuse and yelling. 30% say that they are regularly given unrealistic deadlines and 50% indicate that they have to work 12 hour days just to get all the work done. What is happening in the American workplace today that leads employees to such poor conclusions regarding their workplace?

A Lynn Learning Labs 1998 survey indicate 88% of employees feel that leaders don't acknowledge their work contributions. Further, a Hewitt Associates global study estimates that 54% of the workforce in low performing companies is disengaged. Guess what? If employees are not motivated to drive your organization's business goals, whose goals are they promoting?

This book offers some very interesting insights into the vast array of research done on leadership and the competencies and skills necessary to be and remain a great leader.