9 Things a Leader Must Do – Book Review
Author: Dr. Henry Cloud
Genre: Career/Business/ Leadership
This book will help you discover the secrets that will help you focus on the dynamics that make a difference in your organization – and your life. A good number of us are in business or other arenas of leadership, but we have different backgrounds, different personalities, different economic circumstances, and different abilities. However, this set of people are the same in that they share this way of handling life and work. This book looks at 9 qualities that all great leaders possess. Their qualities influences leader’s decisions and relationships.
Chapter 1: Clear your mind and focus on you.
Leadership success is the process of digging up the treasures of the invisible soul to bring dreams, desires, and talents into the visible world. Become aware, listen and develop.
Chapter 2: Deal with it or let it go.
There are major negative things that can afflict us, really bad stuff. Then new energy, resources, time, and space become available to you to focus on the things that have life in them. The negative energy drain is stopped, making room for the good stuff.
Chapter 3: Evaluate first
Paying attention to detail is important. Always has been. Most leaders notice their surroundings, such as people, their behavior, and problems they feel they can solve. Have a plan, plot it, and make it happen.
Chapter 4: I’m wrong, but I can be right.
Many leaders blame themselves first. There is a problem, but you are aware there is a solution. Do what you must do to solve those problems and fire whomever you need to later. Ha!
Chapter 5: Leaders know to be patient.
The biggest enemy of the small-steps-big-results principle is our craving for having it all. All success is built and sustained just like a building is built, one brick at a time. Great leaders value the little increments, the tiny steps. Taking the long road, one tiny step at a time, will get you there faster because you will not lose time by trying shortcuts.
Chapter 6: It’s okay to hate something.
Choosing what you hate is serious business. Make your values intentional. If you don’t do this, these very things that you hate will end up in your life.
Chapter 7: Don’t keep score.
People who succeed in leadership and life do not go around settling scores. They do not even keep score.
Chapter 8: Don’t have such a big head because you are successful.
Root out any attitude of entitlement. Take responsibility, apologize, and forgive.
Chapter 9: Popularity isn’t important.
Good leaders go against the odds if the odds are against what is right. They are willing to be the odd one, risking loss of approval to do the right thing. Forget the popularity polls. Don’t try to avoid upsetting people; just make sure you are upsetting the right ones. If controlling, hot and cold, irresponsible, or manipulative people are upset with you, then take courage – it might be a sign that you are doing the right thing and becoming a great leader.