Unusually Excellent: The Necessary Nine Skills Required for the Practice of Great Leadership

by John Hamm

Master the fundamentals of leadership-at every stage in your career Often, when leaders experience trouble, they look to blame an outside source or expect a small tweak to right their ship. But many times they've actually lost their grip on the very basic foundation of leadership. The business environment may change, but no management trend can displace the core laws, proven over centuries, of excellent leadership. Unusually Excellent is an essential resource for leaders that brings these fundamentals together in a new and comprehensive way. This book will help leaders at any level keep their focus on the bedrock principles that will make them extraordinary.. Using a sports analogy, the author breaks the work of leaders into three parts: pregame: a matter of character; game day: a matter of competence; and postgame: a matter of consequence.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Nonfiction, Management, Personal Growth

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 2011

Reviews

[Vijay Sankaralingam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read. Would definitely recommend.

The view on looking at leadership as a long term impact on an individual's legacy and how to approach the same was very good. The four points in the afterword captures the essence of leadership for any practitioner.

- Leadership is a mentality.
- Leadership is a practice of behaviors.
- Leadership is a mission of service to others and of achieving through people those things that make the world move forward.
- Leadership is not just a job, it's a passion.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book to an extent - in fact, I wrote a paper about it. However, there are so many golf and sport metaphors, it's clearly written for a middle-aged white male. I couldn't get past that.

[Alireza Hejazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusually Excellent answers several key questions on leadership, including what are the underlying principles of human nature and human interaction they direct and amplify? And why those principles are so important in the making of great leaders? Attempting to answer these questions, the book suggests that being a better leader requires authenticity, trustworthiness, persuasiveness, supportive leadership, strategic visioning, pursuance, communication, decisiveness, and influence.

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very basic book on modern leadership. If you are a total beginner to a management role you will get some foundation here to build on. On the other hand, in case your education included the basic principles of humanism many of the ideas presented here will seem straightforward and self-evident.

[Eric Elegado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. The essence of the book is that "unusually excellent" leaders understand and master the following skills/habits: CREDIBILITY (be compelling; be trustworthy; and be authentic); COMPETENCE (have a love for people; embrace strategy; and know how to execute); CONSEQUENCE (know how to make decisions - and when; be a master communicator; and learn how to create maximum impact). If leaders can learn how to humbly and genuinely "master" these skills, Hamm argues, then they will become true unusually excellent leaders. These type of leaders are rare and hard to find but extremely powerful and influential.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Unusually Excellent, John Hamm aims to provide a reference book rather than some glitzy and shallow airport biz book. He hits a bullseye. The back to the basics approach is perfect. This book is logically organized, well stated and supported with memorable real-life examples. Unusually Excellent is on my "must read" recommendation list for colleagues, friends, and any recent grad starting a career.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the author had some great insights that I want to adopt in my leadership responsibilities, I felt that some parts of the book were somewhat boring and hard to follow. It is not my favorite book on leadership, but I am glad I read it.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among the best in the crowded pop leadership category. Constructed clearly and usually concisely, written with an integrity and generosity of spirit that make even the tough advice feel worth following. I rate it near the top of heap - with Warren Bennis' books on the same topic.

[Bill Donhiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better business books I have read this year. More philosphy than nuts and bolts but really worth the time

[Joe Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an ok 101 book but tends to repeat what's already being said in leadership circles. If its one of the first books you read on leadership you will not be disappointed.

[Marcelo]

John Hamm is a great guy and the book reflects his philosophy on dealing with the crucial element of every business: people.