Exceptional Leaders Playbook: High-Impact Coaching Strategies for Today's Progessive Leaders

by Tracy Spears, Wally Schmader

This book delivers high-impact skills, strategies and ideas in a practical and user-friendly way. Readers will find information they can begin using right away to become a much more effective and influential leader. The recommendations are organized into six sections, each focused on a key set of high-level leadership skills. These ideas and strategies have worked for hundreds of top-performing leaders. Spend some time with this book and you will know what exceptional leaders know.

Genres: Business

262 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasant surprise.  I got this on the bargain bin.  Usually that means it's a self-published cash grab.  Not this time.  This is very good and highly recommended.  



Notes:


1) Humility is not lowering yourself to others; it’s raising others up to your level. (26)


2) A good way to tell how people are psychologically constructed is to ask the simple question, “How do you know when you’ve done a good job?”  First responses will indicate an internal or external locus of control. If they say, “I know because I feel good about myself,” or “I feel proud to have accomplished something,”

they’re self-satisfiers who are able to feel successful without other people telling them they’re successful. On the contrary, if the question is answered with something like, “When my boss is impressed,” or, “I get recognized,” or “I earn my bonus,” then

you know they want the outside world to tell them they’re successful. (36)


3) Listed below are a few areas of confusion that can knock an otherwise capable leader out of balance if he doesn’t know the difference between:

• Busyness and productivity

• Hard work and performance

• Completion and accomplishment

• Being highly motivated and being hyperactive (39)


4) The greatest cause of stress is thinking too much about yourself (39)


5) Being a leader means you’re continually being evaluated by others (46)


6) High-performance leaders have advisors and mentors. They learn to aggregate and leverage the best advice and the best examples they can find. (67)


7) Here are a few recommended questions that can help a leader begin to understand the motives and aspirations of people on their team:

• What is your favorite part about your job? Your least favorite?

• What is something you’re really good at that you do not get to do in your current role?

• What are the work accomplishments you’re most proud of?

• What would make it more fun to come to work?

• Can you tell me about some of your career goals?

• What is the task you do regularly that often feels like a waste of time?

• What would you change about your job if you could? (70)


8) Here is where you’ll find a critical difference between high-performance people and everyone else: The high-performance person chooses what he will be influenced by (72)

[Mickaël A]

This book is excellent and gives valuable behavioral advice for a leadership position. I like the emphasis of the shift between the leader and the team he/she is serving. The leader serves the team to achieve exceptional results. "I work for my people's goal" is one of the core ideas of this book.

[Jim Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great overview of a lot of leadership concepts. Some new and some old but all great points. Really enjoyed it.

[Amanda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors utilize WELKnotes (What Exceptional Leaders Know) at the end of each chapter giving the reader a good summary and inviting reflection. Spears & Schmader convey how anyone can develop themselves into a leader challenging them to see things from a different perspective - it is what makes change happen! The authors captivate the reader by incorporating a "life is about choices" - conscious and unconscious - theme throughout the book. This is my own personal mantra. It is reflective and provokes the reader in the right way to expound on his/her leadership journey.

The authors offer a sort of playbook that readers can immediately implement. Whether you want to learn how to put together your own personal board of directors, lead exceptional meetings, or reduce time-wasting conference calls, Spears & Schmader give the reader many "how to" chapters that can reboot their professional wellbeing and effectiveness. Read them one-by-one or cover-to-cover. Overall this book is a great tool for any new or seasoned leader!