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Encouraging the Heart: A Leader's Guide to Rewarding and Recognizing Others

James M. Kouzes,

Barry Z. Posner

3.77 · Rating details · 295 Ratings · 38 Reviews

All too often, simple acts of human kindness are often overlooked and under utilized by people in leadership roles. Advising mutual respect and recognition of accomplishments, Encouraging the Heart shows us how true leaders encourage and motivate those they work with by helping them find their voice and making them feel like heroes. Recognized experts in the field of leade ...more

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Paperback, 224 pages

Published February 6th 2003 by Jossey-Bass (first published 1999)

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Mar 19, 2015 Eric Mesa rated it it was ok

I received this book as part of a manager training seminar I attended. It's not my first management improvement book and it's not my first touchy feel-y self-improvement book. My dad had me read Dyer, Chopra, Tony Robbins, Maxwell Maltz, and Stephen Covey. But this is the first time I've read a touchy feel-y management improvement book since finish my first assignment as a manager.

So it is with a combination of skepticism and belief that I read this book. I've seen some of these principles put I received this book as part of a manager training seminar I attended. It's not my first management improvement book and it's not my first touchy feel-y self-improvement book. My dad had me read Dyer, Chopra, Tony Robbins, Maxwell Maltz, and Stephen Covey. But this is the first time I've read a touchy feel-y management improvement book since finish my first assignment as a manager.

So it is with a combination of skepticism and belief that I read this book. I've seen some of these principles put into place and they sometimes work. And I've read of many of the psychology behind the principles and, while I'm no psychologist, they seem to agree.

Upon completing the book, I feel the same way as I did when I made the latest status update. I get the trend to be positive and happy and all that. But what I need is a touch of realism. That's just how I roll. I find that my ability to apply the principles in these kinds of books is limited by their focus on everything being perfect if you follow the plan. What I need is the last section of this book (and similar books) to be - "OK, that didn't work exactly as planned. Here are some things we've noticed....." or "This is how you keep the harmony, koombaya state we just had you erect at work while still disciplining and firing folks." Because just making every feel appreciated doesn't mean everyone's going to work hard or there won't be sexual harassment, etc. The book tries with its last chapter to address this by saying the reader needs to find xis own voice. That things may feel a bit false. I feel like they started off in the right directions and then said some nice things about artists and considered the job done.

This is why I prefer interactive classes and seminars to books. They aren't always perfect, sometimes the facilitator is so focused on being chipper that they dismiss any negativity. But that's not the way to teach, it's the way to make people check out and stop listening to what you're saying. Because some people are mean or inconsiderate at work and just talking works no better than it did with the bullies in grade school.

Anyway, the book has decent principles and it may work for the way your brain works. Flip through it at a book store or something. ...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Laura rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed reading "Encouraging the Heart"

According to Kouzes & Posner in “Encouraging the Heart,” when leaders do their best in encouraging the heart they practice the following:
1. Set clear standards
2. Expect the best
3. Pay attention
4. Personalize recognition
5. Tell the story
6. Celebrate together
7. Set the example

This makes perfect sense to me in light of both life and leadership experiences; it is simply the right thing to do. My favorite of the practices is "personalizing recogniti ...more

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May 17, 2016 Terri rated it it was ok

Shelves: library, did-not-finish

This one came highly recommended from a (really good) speaker at a conference I attended this spring. Unfortunately, this book is as dry as the Sahara. Maybe it's because I've read a bunch of these "be a better manager" books in the last few months, but this one was all the same rhetoric with none of the personality.

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Jun 12, 2018 Alexandra rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018

I usually don’t read self help books because I consider them very boring. I made an exception with this one because someone I know had to read it for work and I got curious. It’s a fast read, I finished it in a day.
The subject of the book is about not being a boss, but rather a leader. It highlights the importance of having positive and healthy relationships in order to make the working environment more productive and more energised by leading through example, recognising a job well done and re ...more

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Dec 17, 2017 Cathy Konopa rated it liked it

Shelves: work

In Kouzes and Posner's book "The Leadership Challenge," encouraging the heart was one of five exemplary leadership practices. This one is all about motivating and recognizing employees--the heartfelt part of leadership. If you've already read "The Leadership Challenge," you probably don't need to read this one--unless you're not sold on leading with heart or really struggle with it and want to get better. For everyone else, there's Pinterest or a couple of books they reference: "1001 Ways to Ene ...more

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Jul 18, 2017 Adam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: business, audible

Good book, but definitely focused on a leader aware of their employees. The leaders that need this book will very likely not read it. It has plenty of lists and clear examples of ways to recognize employees.

Unfortunately, it tends to focus on recognition examples of people that want to be recognized publicly. Would benefit from including examples of how introverts or silent doers can best be encouraged.

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Dec 07, 2017 Robbie Joerger rated it it was ok

Honestly a lot of this boils down to don't be self centered.

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May 20, 2017 Dave Moyer rated it liked it · review of another edition

There are better leadership books out there, but this does encourage reflection and thought.

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Nov 02, 2017 Kristine Crane rated it it was amazing

Excellent book for managers and leaders.

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Mar 18, 2017 Susan rated it really liked it

Simple but important reminders and how-tos regarding encouragement. Honey, after all, catches the flys.

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Sep 17, 2017 Jeff rated it it was ok

This is not comprehensive, and even though I didn't much care for the presentation, I think that the information presented is valuable.

To answer other reviewers that there is a lot more to leadership than what is presented here, that is obviously true. We need to remember that this is a single volume based on one of five requirements for successful leadership that is presented in a separate volume called "The Leadership Challenge." This book contains the fifth and arguably the least understood c ...more

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Nov 14, 2013 Neil Coulter rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: leadership-vocation, non-fiction

I don't ask much of books on leadership. I read through one occasionally just to keep my mind focused on what I'm supposed to be as a leader. It had been a while since I'd read one, and after a very stressful March and an unfocused April, I decided I needed to refresh myself and get back into the game. Kouzes and Posner's book was a good choice. Like most leadership books, this one is full of stories, with questions for reflection at the end of each chapter and some practical ideas and tips at t

...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Melissa Mcdonald marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: leadership

Leadership authorities James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner say employees perform best when their contributions are genuinely appreciated. Unfortunately, the two contend, most executives have not mastered the decidedly soft-management skill of "encouragement" that fosters such behavior. In Encouraging the Heart, they examine how this type of compassionate supervision is becoming a critical part of successful management today, and through example and suggestion they describe how readers can establ ...more

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Oct 21, 2008 Kristin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: leadership

Loved it! Kouzes and Pozner are right. The fifth leadership practice can be tough. In this quick read, they enunciate seven "essentials" of encouraging the heart. Each essential is described using some external research as to its importance. Then examples are given. The book concludes with 150 methods for encouraging the heart. I've currently got popcorn and notecards in my office with a list of 12 other "to dos". Really helpful practical ideas. This is quickly becoming a favorite in my Leadersh ...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Kendall Nielsen rated it liked it

An OK book. Kind of a different approach to leadership. Like any book that takes a unique angle as its title the writers, I think, spent too much time and effort defending their thesis. Agree that encouraging the people you lead is important but it is just one of many tools that can and should be put into play to effectively encourage people to success.

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Sep 03, 2007 Nicole rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: leaders wishing to truly inspire

This book is a really different book on leadership. It's about more than getting people to do things. It's about inspiring those you lead by knowing who they are and recognizing them in ways that THEY want to be recognized. It's about setting a great example for people to follow.

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Mar 16, 2016 Barbara rated it really liked it

"Encouragement boosts performance, strengthens our resolve, and improves our health."

This book gave insights, not just for managers, but for everyone to boost attitudes and connect with others in everyday celebrations.

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Nov 19, 2011 Mary Lynn rated it it was ok

I had to read this for a Leadership class I was taking. It made some good points and I definitely took away some concrete ideas to implement as a manager. But I'd rather spend my spare time reading fiction.

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May 17, 2016 Alex rated it really liked it

Authors get into more details on one of the Leadership practises they laid out in their seminal Leadership Challenge

The book is full of examples, insights and have very practical model of 7 essentials of encouraging the heart

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Feb 09, 2015 George rated it liked it

Shelves: management-self-improvement

Read this as quasi mandatory reading for a class. Some great points and some ideas that are completely impractical. If this is a typical you need help with and how in a book store, check it out. Otherwise, a solid "OK."

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Nov 19, 2007 Carolyn rated it really liked it

This was a text book I used during my Master's program in a class called HR of the future and what companies need to do to keep good people. It explains how a leader needs to relate to their employees and just like the title says, "Encourage their hearts".

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Jul 17, 2016 Luci rated it really liked it

Shelves: personal-library

Read this for a leadership class, and found the book engaging and thought-provoking. I took pieces from this and Daniel Pink's "Drive" back to my office and recommended them to other leaders.

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Jun 25, 2013 Shonna Froebel rated it liked it

Shelves: work-related

Reviewed for library newsletter.
Very interesting

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Jan 21, 2008 Kelsey rated it liked it

Shelves: never-could-finish-maybe-one-day

Sometimes, a little extra effort in listening and learning how to encourage others can make an incredible difference. Why simply live day to day when you can make a difference?

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Nov 12, 2008 Heather rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: anyone

We all need encouragement, yet we desire it in different ways. This book has 150 different ways to encourage those in your life.

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Jan 27, 2012 Adam rated it liked it

Great book. Helped me realize that I do not thank people when I do not believe I deserve the praise or the gift. The authors should have kept anything to do with George Bernard Shaw out of book.

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