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Finding Your True North: A Personal Guide
Based on Bill George's bestselling book True North , this personal guide offers leaders a comprehensive method for identifying their unique "True North." The book offers methods for personal reflection and includes targeted exercises that help leaders hone in on the purpose of their leadership and developing their authentic leadership skills.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
21 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 2, 2012
Although this is a book for a leadership class I am taking in my graduate program, I am finding it really insightful when applied to my spiritual and personal life. I am seeing some places I thought as strengths end up being my weakness. I am only 4 chapters into it.
Most of my leadership experience has been in the realm of non-profit organizations, specifically in education and religion. Having more experience with people from a religious perspective is probably something not usually looked at in this MLIS program, but with my undergraduate work in religious Studies, and my personal spiritual life, has all accumulated into my current authentic self.
I have learned that I am a natural leader, but I have learned to be flexible and to stand behind what I know to be right. More importantly, as I discovered in retrospect after reading page 15 what “the greatest fulfillment in leading” is for me: Helping people explore their spiritual potential through information and support. I had not realized this up until now.
Another point made by the authors in this workbook concerned the “hazards” of my own development in authentic leadership; they outlined several destructive behaviors on page 19 which I could identify with, but one stood out immediately. I often feel like an imposter in responsible situations in work. I tend to worry so much about over-achieving that I sometimes forget the focus of the goal; I am also often in competition with myself versus others, trying to prove something. I felt some hope as it seems this isn't necessarily a bad trait to have, since it can be funneled into positive changes.
“Worrying about your abilities, questioning whether you can handle a new challenge by yourself, sometimes having to display public confidence when you have private doubts, or recognizing your need to develop additional areas of knowledge and skill can all be characteristics of a healthy, authentic leadership. It is when the doubt becomes your driving force that the problems begin” (p.20).
Most of my leadership experience has been in the realm of non-profit organizations, specifically in education and religion. Having more experience with people from a religious perspective is probably something not usually looked at in this MLIS program, but with my undergraduate work in religious Studies, and my personal spiritual life, has all accumulated into my current authentic self.
I have learned that I am a natural leader, but I have learned to be flexible and to stand behind what I know to be right. More importantly, as I discovered in retrospect after reading page 15 what “the greatest fulfillment in leading” is for me: Helping people explore their spiritual potential through information and support. I had not realized this up until now.
Another point made by the authors in this workbook concerned the “hazards” of my own development in authentic leadership; they outlined several destructive behaviors on page 19 which I could identify with, but one stood out immediately. I often feel like an imposter in responsible situations in work. I tend to worry so much about over-achieving that I sometimes forget the focus of the goal; I am also often in competition with myself versus others, trying to prove something. I felt some hope as it seems this isn't necessarily a bad trait to have, since it can be funneled into positive changes.
“Worrying about your abilities, questioning whether you can handle a new challenge by yourself, sometimes having to display public confidence when you have private doubts, or recognizing your need to develop additional areas of knowledge and skill can all be characteristics of a healthy, authentic leadership. It is when the doubt becomes your driving force that the problems begin” (p.20).
July 30, 2018
Point of the book is that authentic leadership must be based on your deepest values. The book is full of stories of CEOs (mostly dudes), and is written from a male perspective. For example, a wife and family is considered an important “part” of the leader’s support system. And a man is commended and supported for being such a good father for having to change his schedule to take his kids to school. One guy even reduced his travel after his kids were born!There is no acknowledgement whatsoever of what it does to your career to birth babies, feed them from your body, not sleep for years, teach them, do the logistics, carry the mental load, the tremendous all encompassing love, and still wrestle with the guilt from people who believe mothers who can, should be at home with their kids. Alas, it was fascinating to get a window into how much other stuff men get to think about when they’re not bothered by these things.
August 24, 2019
Self-help book for MBAs. Lots of anecdotes and stories from various (mostly male) CEOs if that's the type of role model you aspire to become. I didn't get any "aha" moments from reading this book. The first two sections were okay, and the last section about your true north was somewhat helpful, but nothing out of the ordinary. I appreciated the call-out to meditation as a resource/technique. Overall though, I can't say that I'm much closer to finding my true north after reading this book.
February 22, 2018
I remember liking a lot of it and reading some great stories, but the fact that I can’t remember any of them or any takeaways a couple of years later probably means it wasn’t very memorable for me.
May 29, 2019
Another self help book.
August 3, 2012
Practical and inspiring, this book steps you through effective leadership principles and helps you discover your authentic leadership style.
Creating your own personal leadership plan then helps you consciously choose how you want to be and what action to take to be a truly great leader.
Creating your own personal leadership plan then helps you consciously choose how you want to be and what action to take to be a truly great leader.
November 30, 2016
An excellent, motivational read with plenty of thought provoking questions that force you to examine what kind of leader you are, and what your True North is. Highly recommend for sales professionals or anyone in a leadership role.
February 5, 2013
very thorough process, not sure it was anything new though
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews