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Develop Your Leadership Skills
Best-selling author and leadership expert John Adair brings his stimulating insights into leadership into his most accessible book to date. Full of exercises and checklists, ""Develop Your Leadership Skills"" provides the tools to recognize and develop leadership qualities, acquire personal authority and master core leadership functions, including planning, communicating and motivating. Suitable for anyone who wishes to improve their leadership skills, this guide distills the essence of Adair's teaching and offers a framework for becoming an effective leader.
89 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
20 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
John Adair
174 books84 followersJohn Eric Adair is a British academic who is a leadership theorist and author of more than forty books (translated into eighteen languages) on business, military and other leadership.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 11, 2016
This is a practical guide to leadership development written by John Adair. It is what it is: a straight forward book on what the author believes to be and what we can do to improve our skill set. This is book would be a good complement to "Leadership is an Art" by Max Depree or other abstract leadership books. This reads like a reference book so use it as such.
June 26, 2021
GhulamJalani
The book titled “Develop your Leadership Skills” is written by John Adair and published by Kogan Page Limited. The book was initially published in 2007 and reissued in 2010. This book has the potential to lead anyone in the journey of becoming an effective leader. Examples of various leaders from history are included to explain the different concepts of leadership development. Many exercises (like checklists and paperwork) are integrated to make sure the linkage between leader's personal experiences and the book content. The book consists of seven chapters.
In the first chapter, some essential transferable qualities of a leader are discussed. This chapter counters the concept that “leaders are born and not made.” In this chapter, the author claims that leadership skills have been universally recognized as key ingredients. Enthusiasm, Integrity, Toughness, Fairness, Warmth, Humility and Confidence are considered leadership qualities. The author also explained that how the concept of “good leadership” is different from that of “leadership for good”. The first chapter is concluded with a checklist (about checking one’s leadership qualities).
In the second chapter, situational leadership is discussed. It was explained that some leadership qualities are situational while some of the leadership qualities fit all the situations. Four fundamental forms of authority are also discussed: a) Authority of position and rank, b) authority of knowledge, c) charismatic authority, and d) moral authority. It is explained that the form of authority is also situational.
The third chapter is about group leadership. It comprises leadership needs and leadership functions. The three overlapping needs are discussed in the context of a group. Task needs, individual needs, and team maintenance needs are considered as key needs in group leadership. The three overlapping leadership functions: 1) Developing an individual, 2) achieving a task and building, and 3) building and maintaining the team are also discussed comprehensively.
In chapter 4, the leadership functions are discussed in team leadership, operational leadership, and strategic leadership. Task definition, planning, controlling, briefing, motivating, organizing, and administration are discussed. The author has clearly illustrated the operational purposes of all the functions. The role of all the functions is discussed at a team level, operational level, and strategic level by referencing various practical examples from organizations and theories of social sciences. The text has been made motivated by including relevant popular proverbs. Questions, examples, and checklists are also integrated in a smart way.
In chapter 5, the author has tried to ensure that leadership is a self-learning process. Getting responsibilities, experiencing, and being reflective are considered key tasks to be done in the leadership journey.
Chapter 6 is about strategic leadership. In this chapter the author differentiated how strategic leadership is different from and team leadership. It is stated that the tasks of strategic leadership are long-term and more complicated than that of team leadership. Effective delegation and change responsiveness are recommended for a strategic leader.
In chapter seven some principal is given regarding creating and growing leaders in an organization. All organizations need leaders at all levels. It is recommended that the strategic principles should be applied for leadership development with respect to the context of any organization.
The book is more suitable for those who are playing or want to play team leadership in any organization. It guides all those who want to learn and improve their leadership skills. The book comprehensively describes team leadership, operational leadership, and strategic leadership. So, the book is very useful for all those who play the role of leader or manager at any level in an organization. Moreover, it is also useful for students, researchers, prospective leaders, and managers. Although, most of the examples included in this book are from the business sector.
The book is written in very simple language. All the concepts are presented very simply with examples of organizations. The cohesion among chapters and concepts is maintained. The writer has made various techniques to make relevancy between the content and given exercises. The popular proverbs and popular leaders of history are mentioned to explain various concepts.
The exercises given in this book are very comprehensive, relevant to the content, and easy, but no guidelines are mentioned regarding the evaluation of exercises. The exercises will be more motivated if the assessment guidelines are integrated into the Appendix section.
In a nutshell, the book plays the role that its title claims. It has the potential to guide the audience in the development of leadership skills. The scope of this book is not only limited to those who want to improve their leadership skills, but people from all the fields of life can get guidance to improve their role in the respective field.
The book titled “Develop your Leadership Skills” is written by John Adair and published by Kogan Page Limited. The book was initially published in 2007 and reissued in 2010. This book has the potential to lead anyone in the journey of becoming an effective leader. Examples of various leaders from history are included to explain the different concepts of leadership development. Many exercises (like checklists and paperwork) are integrated to make sure the linkage between leader's personal experiences and the book content. The book consists of seven chapters.
In the first chapter, some essential transferable qualities of a leader are discussed. This chapter counters the concept that “leaders are born and not made.” In this chapter, the author claims that leadership skills have been universally recognized as key ingredients. Enthusiasm, Integrity, Toughness, Fairness, Warmth, Humility and Confidence are considered leadership qualities. The author also explained that how the concept of “good leadership” is different from that of “leadership for good”. The first chapter is concluded with a checklist (about checking one’s leadership qualities).
In the second chapter, situational leadership is discussed. It was explained that some leadership qualities are situational while some of the leadership qualities fit all the situations. Four fundamental forms of authority are also discussed: a) Authority of position and rank, b) authority of knowledge, c) charismatic authority, and d) moral authority. It is explained that the form of authority is also situational.
The third chapter is about group leadership. It comprises leadership needs and leadership functions. The three overlapping needs are discussed in the context of a group. Task needs, individual needs, and team maintenance needs are considered as key needs in group leadership. The three overlapping leadership functions: 1) Developing an individual, 2) achieving a task and building, and 3) building and maintaining the team are also discussed comprehensively.
In chapter 4, the leadership functions are discussed in team leadership, operational leadership, and strategic leadership. Task definition, planning, controlling, briefing, motivating, organizing, and administration are discussed. The author has clearly illustrated the operational purposes of all the functions. The role of all the functions is discussed at a team level, operational level, and strategic level by referencing various practical examples from organizations and theories of social sciences. The text has been made motivated by including relevant popular proverbs. Questions, examples, and checklists are also integrated in a smart way.
In chapter 5, the author has tried to ensure that leadership is a self-learning process. Getting responsibilities, experiencing, and being reflective are considered key tasks to be done in the leadership journey.
Chapter 6 is about strategic leadership. In this chapter the author differentiated how strategic leadership is different from and team leadership. It is stated that the tasks of strategic leadership are long-term and more complicated than that of team leadership. Effective delegation and change responsiveness are recommended for a strategic leader.
In chapter seven some principal is given regarding creating and growing leaders in an organization. All organizations need leaders at all levels. It is recommended that the strategic principles should be applied for leadership development with respect to the context of any organization.
The book is more suitable for those who are playing or want to play team leadership in any organization. It guides all those who want to learn and improve their leadership skills. The book comprehensively describes team leadership, operational leadership, and strategic leadership. So, the book is very useful for all those who play the role of leader or manager at any level in an organization. Moreover, it is also useful for students, researchers, prospective leaders, and managers. Although, most of the examples included in this book are from the business sector.
The book is written in very simple language. All the concepts are presented very simply with examples of organizations. The cohesion among chapters and concepts is maintained. The writer has made various techniques to make relevancy between the content and given exercises. The popular proverbs and popular leaders of history are mentioned to explain various concepts.
The exercises given in this book are very comprehensive, relevant to the content, and easy, but no guidelines are mentioned regarding the evaluation of exercises. The exercises will be more motivated if the assessment guidelines are integrated into the Appendix section.
In a nutshell, the book plays the role that its title claims. It has the potential to guide the audience in the development of leadership skills. The scope of this book is not only limited to those who want to improve their leadership skills, but people from all the fields of life can get guidance to improve their role in the respective field.
March 25, 2020
John shares the rudiments to the technicalities of leadership within an organisation.
This book will help you to practically grow as a leader and it will provide essential points of actions for you to train and grow your leaders.
This book will help you to practically grow as a leader and it will provide essential points of actions for you to train and grow your leaders.
September 9, 2020
A small book that covers a lot of ground.
Provides 3 theories for how leadership is viewed. This was somewhat confusing on the first read, how to make the best use of these three theories together. Adair decided to focus only on the Action-Based theory of leadership and ignore the rest more or less.
The last two chapters also focus a bit too much on how to develop leaders on a strategic level of managing, which feels confusing, given that the title of the book is "Develop YOUR Leadership Skills".
Overall a good book for an intro to leadership, the first 4 chapters are the most valuable ones.
Provides 3 theories for how leadership is viewed. This was somewhat confusing on the first read, how to make the best use of these three theories together. Adair decided to focus only on the Action-Based theory of leadership and ignore the rest more or less.
The last two chapters also focus a bit too much on how to develop leaders on a strategic level of managing, which feels confusing, given that the title of the book is "Develop YOUR Leadership Skills".
Overall a good book for an intro to leadership, the first 4 chapters are the most valuable ones.
August 9, 2019
This is NOT your book, if you are looking for an actual book on leadership that will help you improve your leadership skills...
I must say I was not impressed.
I found this book not only lacking practical advice, but a really hard read. I had a hard time finishing it and kept dragging it and found myself forcing myself to read the next line.
I must say I was not impressed.
I found this book not only lacking practical advice, but a really hard read. I had a hard time finishing it and kept dragging it and found myself forcing myself to read the next line.
April 5, 2020
- có rất nhiều điều để học trong cuốn sách này. Mình đã chép tay những phần mà mình cảm thấy tâm đắc nhất. dành thời gian để làm việc đó trong tất cả những giờ giải lao lên lớp, cả lần cúp học để ngồi trong quán Crosscafe đối diện quảng trường nữa. Đó là cuốn sách mà bạn chỉ đọc một lần thôi sẽ không đủ, và nếu bạn mơ về ngày khởi nghiệp của mình thì xin đừng bỏ qua cuốn này.
January 25, 2019
A straight forward short book on how to develop your leadership skills; the author John Adair, is known with such type of books, short, straight to the point and easily elaborated.
Interesting (and quick to read) for both beginners and mature leaders.
Interesting (and quick to read) for both beginners and mature leaders.
March 2, 2020
An informative read on leadership that makes you think about your role and about feedback that you have received. The book describes types of leadership and tools to help understand different perspectives.
February 21, 2019
بسيط و سريع و واضح .. مع قصص قصيرة و استشهادات تاريخية بالإضافة إلى تمارين و استبيانات عملية ..
July 25, 2019
nice book
July 30, 2019
A guide to being a better leader / manager.
I thought this book was informative and it made me think about my actions at work.
Reading time around one hour.
I thought this book was informative and it made me think about my actions at work.
Reading time around one hour.
April 10, 2020
A good primer for leadership skills.
January 29, 2019
Baca bersi Bahasa Melayu
July 5, 2016
This is the sort of book you could easily send anonymously to various so-called leaders and managers within a company who seem to do everything in their power to demotivate employees and generally slam the brakes on innovation and development. If only they were not so pig-headed and fail to accept that they don’t know it all.
However, the enlightened accept that they cannot know everything and that there is always scope to improve. Whether you are starting at first base or are merely looking a polish what you claim is already a fairly developed leadership style, this little pocket-sized book is a worthy potential companion. The author gets to the point and sets out to help the reader develop and refine leadership qualities and master leadership functions such as planning, motivation and communications. Naturally there are entire forests of books on this subject and maybe after reading this book you may be inspired to seek additional, deeper literary consolation to help you dig deeper.
Whether an aide-memoire or a beginner-type book, this book has a lot of potential. You cannot complain about its price either. It mixes checklist, exercise and case study together to get its message across and, of course, you can dig in and out as your needs dictate.
What is there not to like about it?
However, the enlightened accept that they cannot know everything and that there is always scope to improve. Whether you are starting at first base or are merely looking a polish what you claim is already a fairly developed leadership style, this little pocket-sized book is a worthy potential companion. The author gets to the point and sets out to help the reader develop and refine leadership qualities and master leadership functions such as planning, motivation and communications. Naturally there are entire forests of books on this subject and maybe after reading this book you may be inspired to seek additional, deeper literary consolation to help you dig deeper.
Whether an aide-memoire or a beginner-type book, this book has a lot of potential. You cannot complain about its price either. It mixes checklist, exercise and case study together to get its message across and, of course, you can dig in and out as your needs dictate.
What is there not to like about it?
February 5, 2015
En tan solo 7 temas aborda el liderazgo desde el ser, el hacer y el saber. Conjuga diferentes modelos de liderazgo en un solo libro sin explicaciones tediosas, un libro practico, de bolsillo, fácil de entender y de aplicar, me encanto el diagrama de las necesidades superpuestas y el de funciones del liderazgo, se los recomiendo mucho, aunque es complicado conseguir el libro.
February 12, 2015
"Written by the world's leading authority on leadership and leadership development". A book with such a phrasing anywhere on the front or back cover spells "my speciality is selling to the suckers". The contents does support this conclusion.
May 28, 2013
It made something so complex, to me, look simple. Easy to read. Very helpful.
March 23, 2016
this book was amazing. It was one my first translating books for Marandiz publisher.
December 4, 2020
An excellent introduction to leadership and the key principles. Not too long and I think the concepts can definitely be applied
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews