Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You

by Betsy Myers, John David Mann, David Gergen (Foreword)

This life-changing book from White House insider and leadership expert Betsy Myers “is a perfect read for anyone seeking to understand, develop, or unleash his or her genuine leadership potential” (Publishers Weekly).

Why is it that some people challenge and motivate us, while others drain our spirit? What is that magical quality certain people have that makes others engage fully?

In her hugely inspirational and practical book, Betsy Myers—senior adviser to two US presidents and former executive director of Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership— demonstrates that you do not need to be in a boardroom, on a battlefield, or on a ballot to have a profound impact on everyone around you. Good leadership is not about having the most knowledge or power but about how you make others feel. Drawing on her experiences from the Oval Office to the playground, Myers reveals seven core principles that will help you:

• Set the right priorities for yourself

• Uncover problems while they are still easy to fix

• Connect with others on a deeper level

• Collaborate with those whose viewpoints differ from yours

• Push through your fears

True leadership is not just all around us—it’s within us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership, Business, Self Help, Professional Development, Audiobook, Management

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2010

Reviews

[Betsy Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my book, TAKE THE LEAD: Motivate, Inspire and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You, I share personal stories from my time in government, in academia, and on the campaign trail, as well as my experiences as a wife, daughter, and mother. I hope to help you learn to set the right priorities; to connect on a deeper level with the people around you; to uncover problems early when they are still easy to fix; to collaborate with those whose points of view are different from our own; and to push through our fears and live our most authentic lives.

I hope you find my book personal, practical, and inspiring. True leadership is all around us—and within us.

[roe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of many books that I read regarding leadership, this one I actually thought was relatively well done. Written by woman-nice addition to the typically male dominated world-it didn’t give an entirely different viewpoint but there were some unique pieces.

Some of the information is known, if you have read other books or just have a relatively decent amount of common sense, but this book gave great examples and had great stories of people that she interacted with to display those ideas. I did feel that it was slightly politically biased, but she did eventually end up discussing some Republicans in a positive light as well. The author had a great deal of experience to draw upon, although I do feel that some of the memories may have been colored with time and repurposing for this book. Example, could a five-year-old really be that astute? It seemed a bit coincidence, particularly the instances with her daughter.

But the book did give a better idea of what it really takes these days to make a leader. Times have changed, people/the work force has changed, and so should the way we lead and are led. There were key points and information. It is not solely or people in higher positions in corporations or politic, it can be used to focus on any performance that needs improvement.

I did lend/recommend the book to someone.

[Usha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sole reason for picking this book and continuing to read (despite losing interest) while stalling the more captivating "Leadership isn't for cowards": written by a woman in the very sparsely populated world of women in leadership roles. Its always refreshing to get a perspective from the 'other-side' than the usual norm.

A few pages in, and frankly, it wasn't striking a personal chord. However the stories in there were interesting and well told. That much is true - Betsy is a great story teller, transforming simple day-to-day actions even with a child into leadership stories! But it was hard to see a coherent line through them and transitions from one story/section to the other were not enough to hold interest.

The 7 factors laid out towards good leadership, all ran the central theme of "a good leader is one who brings out positive feelings in others and hence increased productivity". That is one unique take you wouldn't see in other leadership books since its coming from a woman. Feelings are a dismissed word in men's dictionaries! To hear about genuinely taking note of how people feel from a person in a leadership role is very assuring, so to say.

At the end, it was more of a read for political anecdotes, than for insights into leadership - which was the purpose of the book.

[Itsme · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to read and like this book, but I couldn't get past the authors politics. Too bad, because if she had just written the book from a neutral point I think it would have appealed to a lot more people.

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the premise of Betsy Myers' book Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You - regardless of your position in the work force, or in life, you can be a leader. It's such a simply concept which usually goes overlooked. Most people believe that they need the title of Manager to be a leader and that couldn't be further from the truth. After reading the synopsis of "Take the Lead," I thought I was in for an enlightening and insightful read - boy was I disappointed. Each chapter focuses on a particular value (Clarity, Courage, Respect, Authenticity, etc) but the stories and anecdotes were almost entirely about politics and the time Myers spent involved with the Clinton and Obama campaigns. I was expecting relatable, interesting applications of these values and was instead treated to endless ramblings about political campaigns (which has no real application in my life). I'd also love to know how much Warren Bennis was paid for writing the afterword. He commends Myers for her natural storytelling and abilities to connect with her audience. Did we read the same book?!

I wanted to give Take the Lead a 1 star review but, having read The Chalk Man earlier this year, NOTHING will ever be as bad as that. 1 star out of 5, rounded up to 2 stars, because nothing can compete with hate for The Chalk Man (my review).

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betsy is an amazing story teller. The anecdotes in the books are well chosen for each chapter. Highly recommend it.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Take the Lead, Betsy Myers presents three core beliefs about effective modern leadership: 1) Effective leadership starts with leading yourself, and therefore self-knowledge and self-reflection are foundational skills for a great leader; 2) Leadership isn't about having all of the answers, instead, it's about asking the right questions and collaborating effectively with others; and 3) Great leadership is driven by how you make the people around you feel.

Betsy builds out these core beliefs with a mix of academic research on leadership and personal stories from her own family and epic professional experience (from her time in the Clinton administration, Obama campaign, as ED of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard, and other professional experiences). There is no fluff in this book--the content is succinct, clear, applicable, readable and relatable. I particularly love that at the end of each chapter, Betsy includes a list of questions to inspire the reader's own self-reflection on what they've just read, making it easier to apply what they've learned while underscoring Betsy's belief that self-reflection is key to great leadership.

I also love that Betsy includes stories of true learning, in which she made mistakes, worked through difficult relationships, and even got fired. It's inspiring for someone of her caliber and achievement to show that she's not perfect either, and that leadership is a skill to be practised and improved throughout one's life.

[Beverlee Jobrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all seems to come down to being a decent human being, being humble and treating people with respect. The last chapter on courage is affirming. I love citing one of my favorite quotes: Eleanor Roosevelt's quote: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

When I'm afraid, I repeat in my head, "you must do the thing you think you cannot do."

[Lisa Petronio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a colleague. The general theme - the traits of leadership - I certainly agree with. Each chapter is laden with examples of each trait in action from the author’s years of experience. While this was a good way to learn, I felt like it was endless name-dropping (of people that I’m largely unaware of). In all, I liked the book but didn’t love it. Although the traits highlighted reinforce other leadership training I’ve been exposed to, the fact that it took me 4 months to read the book says something.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this a leadership book? It felt more like a “my experiences with campaigns and federal agencies.” Not a bad book, but it did not feel like a leadership book to me. There were some mentions of how some successful businesses treat their employees well, which I suppose is a component of leadership.

[Dustin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wildly basic leadership content, seems like it’s more of a book that allows the author to brag about her accomplishments and attempt to regale the reader with lackluster stories about her political involvement with former presidents, then tacks on some surface level lesson out of each of these short anecdotes.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a nerd for politics, this is a great leadership book. It's full of wisdom and antidotes, but many of the stories offer a behind the scenes look at campaigning and legislating. It's a light read, but solid.

[Bonni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I started a book on leadership, not politics. I listened to the entire thing. There are good one-liners and thought provoking questions sprinkled among some lengthy and repetitive stories that felt more like name-dropping than illustrative life lessons.

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

What it takes to lead

Leadership is simple. It’s important to find the key qualities it takes to lead so that you can become an effective leader. Betsy Myers shares those qualities in this book.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who works on any level. Your influence goes far beyond your imagination. Practical wisdom for teachers , parents, leaders in the workplace

[Bombon · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really good points and stories. I'm glad I listened to it but I found all the election/political talk quite boring.

[Jeff Steinlage · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book was decent, had some sound advice but the examples given throughout the book were long. The questions posed at the end of each chapter was good.

[Andrew Peters]

Love this book

[Mariam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like two things about this book: one, it was brief and two it had references, and the examples were real.

[Penny Ronning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love a book that you never want to end?!

THIS IS THAT BOOK!

I've read countless leadership books and most seem to just repeat what their mentor or someone that inspired them said in a slightly different format, but, in the end, it's really just the same stuff you read before. Not this book!

Betsy Myers brings an entirely new perspective to leadership that is so simple and yet so profound. Her lifelong love for the study of what makes a leader great has taken her professionally from her own business in southern California to being a senior official in the White House to Harvard's Center for Public Leadership to being the COO of a winning presidential campaign to ultimately one of her most important positions, a parent and to her daughter's first grade classroom.

Betsy's belief that leadership starts with ourselves is powerfully demonstrated when she shares a conversation she had with one of her daughter's elementary school teachers. The teacher had just shared with Betsy that she (the teacher) didn't see herself as a leader. To which Betsy responds: "Are you kidding?"..."You're teaching all these children how to read and write, how to share and other important life skills. They are growing and developing their sense of self-worth, and you are right in the middle of that process, teaching them how to learn and nurture their own abilities. You're leading them into their future!"

Betsy's ability to bring out the most productive feelings in those around her carries through into each page of her book and brings about those same feelings in her readers.

BUY THIS BOOK TODAY! IT'S OUTSTANDING! And be sure to get copies for your team, colleagues, staff, etc. -- I have no doubt you will see a rise in productivity.Take the Lead

[Suncerae · Rating 3 out of 5]

You don’t have to be in a position of authority to be a leader. Betsy Myers encourages everyone to identify times you are a leader in your day-to-day life, and she shares her best advice for making the most of those relationships. With examples from her own life, including motherhood and senior adviser to two US presidents, Betsy reveals her success is based on developing the most positive relationships she can, making people feel engaged and worthwhile, instead of wielding power from above.

Although I’m new to the leadership and business genre, this is my favorite to date. The bottom line is simple and easy – your business will thrive if you are nice to your employees and treat them like real people. There is discussion of some tried and true techniques, including setting clear expectations and giving lots of feedback. But Betsy also spends time on how important it is to provide a safe and welcome environment for employee’s to voice their concerns and suggestions, so that you can uncover problems early, as well as getting to know what is important to your employees and co-workers, even on a personal level. Working with priorities that focus on the big picture allows for an outbox strategy, instead of being chained to the inbox.

Most inspirational of all, Betsy sets a challenge to remain curious and seek out opportunities for growth, and if you are in a position that no longer holds no passion for you, then it’s time to push through the fear and make a change. Life is short and we should all strive to lead an authentic life, whatever that means at your point in time. Set your priorities in life for what gives you joy, and help others to follow their own path.

[Dave B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking the Lead is a wonderfully light and refreshing business leadership book from Betsy Myers that shares her life experiences in a way that supports here seven qualities of good leadership. These qualities are: Authenticity, Connection, Respect, Clarity, Collaboration, Learning and Courage. These aspects are not new to modern day leadership thought so the reader should not expect to gain new insight or a revelation rather add a different perspective on leadership qualities from Ms. Myers. And, the reader will gain a better sense of context as a leader in Washington politics. My favorite chapter was on Clarity where I gained a new perspective on clarifying my own goals and objectives in addition to clear communications of organizational goals and objectives to others. I adopted a “clear desk workday start” and stating my top priorities philosophy for work from the author.
I recommend ‘Take the Lead’ was a reminder to existing leaders that we retain our human factors as we progress forward in our careers. This is a reminder to understand ourselves first then bring that real self-aware person forward to build real relationships with peers and subordinates. My only fault with this book was the author’s lack of development as a leader. As far as I can tell the book is written from the perspective of top leadership. The book misses points on developing internal leadership and pushing that quality up the corporate food chain. Ultimately, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

[Betsy Myers]

“A home run.... a perfect read for anyone seeking to understand, develop, or unleash his or her genuine leadership potential.”
—Publisher’s Weekly



“Betsy Myers will help you recognize the leader within you and show you how to use that gift to bring out the best in others. Read this book over and over and absorb its simple truths.”
—KEN BLANCHARD, coauthor of the #1 national bestseller The One Minute Manager ® and Lead with LUV



“After forty years of being a boss, I’ve found Take the Lead the most inspirational new tool, not only for leadership but for life.”
—KAY UNGER, cofounder of Phoebe Couture and Kay Unger New York



“A principled yet practical guide to twenty-first-century leadership. Myers’s candid, courageous stories offer convincing evidence of what it takes to be an authentic leader.”
—BILL GEORGE, author of True North and former CEO of Medtronics



“In working with some of the most powerful leaders in the world, Betsy has had the opportunity to see into their hearts and minds and understand what makes them inspiring and successful leaders. The result is a book filled with insight and wisdom. ”
—STEVE BELKIN, chairman, Trans National Group

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betsy Myers worked in the Clinton Administration, studied and taught leadership at the Kennedy School of Government, and ran Obama's 2008 campaign. In this book on leadership, she explores seven characteristics of good leaders. These seem to be not so much habits (ala Steve Covey) but speak more to a leadership philosophy and character. Her seven: Authenticity, Connection, Respect, Clarity, Collaboration, Learning and Courage. Her points on each are illustrated by her interactions with people in the various contexts she has served in (lots of stories about Obama and Clinton's leadership).I really liked the anecdotes and it didn't come off as fluffy like a lot of leadership books do.

[FiNominal Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through sharing her motivational leadership theories and experiences, Mrs. Betsy Myers reinforced many of the leadership techniques that I believe in, as well as introduced a few new ideas on how to improve my strategy as a leader. I highly recommend this book to anyone in a leadership position who might want to broaden their outlook and abilities. One of the nicest things about this book is that the techniques she tries to convey only require your own personal effort, nothing complicated to carryout or understand, very simple and to the point. If more people followed these leadership tactics, we would see growth and collaboration at a highly efficient and more effective rate.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hardback book. I did not get fully engaged into this Title and had no desire to complete it. Basically I lost interest somewhere between honing my culinary skills in the kitchen and reality TV. The title and object of the book was an eye-catcher although the content was not so memorable. Since I am an optimistic book reviewer and somewhat new to the part, the enthusiasm to grab the book was worth the 3 stars and usually if I get to the end of the book it is because I think its great and hence would give it 5 stars.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw Betsy Myers speak at the MA Conference for Women in December 2011 and I really enjoyed her perspective on leadership and becoming a better leader. She challenges the notion that leadership is reserved for the very few who already have all the answers, giving examples of leadership all around us (in home, school and life) and not just in the workplace. I'm hoping to apply her many practical tips to not only become a stronger leader, but to actually see myself as such.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Often the idea of leadership feels intangible. Many people know a good leader, but it is hard to sometimes describe why s/he is a good leader. Betsy names characteristics of good leaders and gives examples. At the end of each chapter, she poses challenges and questions that push readers to reflect on themselves and step outside their comfort zone.

It is an easy read, colored by interesting stories, and immediately applicable.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was still fun to read even though I don't think it was what I was expecting from the cover promise to "motivate, inspire and bring out the best in yourself and everyone around you". Some good suggestions but why do we have to recap chapters with little redundant lists at the end? I literally just finished reading it. The personal stories and behind the scene political stuff was the most interesting bits.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hated the message of being your authentic self because my authentic self is not always politically correct regardless the stressing necessity of developing personal relationship and having the courage to keep growing on to your "next grade" is motivational for me to go in to beast mode in order to graduate to that next grade in my career. I read this book because it was a woman's network book club selection.