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Leading Quietly

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Most of us think of leaders as courageous risk takers, orchestrators of major events. In a heroes. Although such figures are inspiring, their larger-than-life accomplishments are not what makes the world work. Instead, it is the sum of millions of small yet consequential decisions that individuals working far from the limelight make every day. Badaracco calls these individuals "quiet leaders"- people who choose responsible, behind-the-scenes action over public heroism to resolve tough leadership challenges. Quiet leaders don't fit the stereotype of the bold and gutsy leader, and they don't want to. What they want is to do the "right thing"- for their organizations, their coworkers, and themselves- inconspicuously and without casualties. Drawing from extensive research, Harvard Business School professor and author Joseph Badaracco presents eight practical yet counter-intuitive guidelines for situations in which right and wrong seem like moving targets. Compelling stories illustrate how these "non-heroes" succeed by managing their political capital, buying themselves time, bending the rules, and more. From the executive suite to the office cubicle-- Leading Quietly shows how patient, everyday efforts can add up to a better company and a better world.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2001

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About the author

Joseph L. Badaracco Jr.

20 books15 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for CatReader.
1,035 reviews178 followers
May 26, 2024
As far as leadership books go, Badaracco's 20+ year-old (published 2001) Leading Quietly is a variation on theme. Badaracco doesn't praise heroic efforts or write the typical business book vignettes where things went amazingly well or amazingly badly based on excellent or awful behavior. Instead, as Badaracco writes, "My aim was to learn about and describe quieter and more everyday approaches to leadership." The vignettes he presents are generally morally ambiguous, don't result in a resounding success or failure for the person or organization in question, and often don't resolve at all, which is both frustrating and realistic. Their common theme is main characters who are ordinary people practicing the "unglamorous virtues" of restraint, modesty, and tenacity. Definitely a refreshing take on the subject.
Profile Image for Opetoritse.
241 reviews
May 2, 2016
While this book does present several strong foundational values for evaluating difficult situations from multiple perspectives, the methodology Badaracco presents is rooted in working within or around broken systems, never directly against them. The pragmatism exemplified by the case studies is effective for overcoming immediate problems, but gives no critical insight into or guidance for creating systemic change. Ultimately, this book offers a road map for climbing the proverbial corporate ladder without getting your hands dirty, but also without ever cleaning the ladder itself.
Profile Image for Michael Ryan.
107 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2017
Useful stuff. Most problems involving people are complicated. This book gives the reader a better chance of making a contribution.
Profile Image for Sarah Dutkiewicz.
Author 2 books2 followers
January 16, 2018
Quick read on leadership and quiet leaders, those who work behind the scenes in solving some of the toughest problems. I'm glad I picked up this book, as it really covers a lot of ground in the quiet leadership realm. I am a quiet servant leader in my nature, and this book really hit close to home on a lot of the points discussed in the book. From ethics to feelings, from how we work behind the scenes to what drives us... it was an interesting perspective on the role of the quiet leaders.
Profile Image for Warwick Fairfax.
8 reviews
March 18, 2021
Joseph Badaracco has written a compelling book that talks about the unsung heroes, the quiet leaders most of us have never heard of. They are successful not because of leadership that makes a big splash, but because they take careful, thoughtful, incremental steps. They exercise modesty and restraint; they want to learn and improve. Joseph Badaracco helps us understand that real change often happens quietly and incrementally
Profile Image for Rod White.
Author 4 books14 followers
September 20, 2015
I don't know how this book got on my footstool! I read it this weekend and I wish I had read it in 2002 when it came out. Once in a while a book arrives that consolidates all the instinctual things I have been practicing. It is very affirming and helpful.

I highly recommend it for church leaders who are often condemned to being heroic or not. It is an essay using case studies from business and government (not the church). But they all point to a leadership style reflected in Circle of Hope's proverbs and practices and addresses the constant dilemmas we all face in living with character in a complex world. I think it will help you with your "great man" temptations and requirements to be "super" and will teach you more about listening and reacting with humility, creativity and tenacity.
Profile Image for Jane.
237 reviews
January 12, 2012
The idea of leading quietly is appealing to me. I think there are many quiet leaders in the world, shaping how events play out, influencing important people, etc. This book wasn't really about the silent influence certain people have. It was more a retelling of stories where middle-management leaders had to make difficult decisions, and how they went about that.

There was a fair amount of repetition, reminding me of assignments where students focus on the designated length of the essay, so in order to get there, they fluff things up and say the same thing a few times in different ways.

I am sure there are better books out there on this topic.
Profile Image for Dr Ariel Rainey.
1,352 reviews7 followers
June 5, 2022
I did not enjoy this book, and likely won’t recommend it in the future. But there were some ideas in here that have planted themselves in my brain and won’t let go. So I’m thankful to have read it so that those ideas could expand. The title, and principle of this book, Leading Quietly, comes from the idea that as a culture we value leaders who performed a dramatic action that created a resulting avalanche in which everything changed. We revere the names of Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, and Mother Theresa because they led at the forefront of movements that created "capital C" Change. They were bold, uncompromising, and resolute. They faced true injustice or evil, and they didn’t back down. We applaud that.

However, most of us will never be in a position to change a nation. We will likely not lead in a context in which right and wrong are so clearly defined. We will, however, be in a position to stand for justice and do the right thing in small ways in our own contexts, and in the messy and complex situations in which right and wrong are so intertwined that we’ll be confused the entire time if we’re doing the right thing. Stepping up in a muddle of confusion is what the author considers “leading quietly,” basically a cautious forward motion in spite of uncertainty that makes small changes. I completely agree that most of us will absolutely lead in contexts like this. We won’t have the power to change the course of human history, but we can do the right thing today and keep doing it over and over.

The author applauds restraint, caution, and even manipulation as methods to have this quiet leadership. In a nutshell, that’s one of my problems with the book. His principles are vague:
don’t kid yourself, trust mixed motives*, buy time, drill down, bend the rules, craft a compromise, and “nudge” gradually. I agree that to some extent we may have to do these things at times, but few of us consider them the best moments of our leadership. My other issue with the book is that he rests his points HEAVILY on lengthy stories of individuals who had sticky situations. Many of them were indeed complex, and at least a few of them were familiar as things I’ve faced before. However, they were mostly middle managers or salespeople, not executives. So they weren’t in positions in which heavy leadership was even possible. They were just caught in the middle, and yes, most of us reading the book may be in middle leadership positions, too. But calling it “quiet leadership” and creating a whole philosophy of leadership around that …. I’m not sure we need another book on leadership for THAT.

Additionally, I need to say that I personally follow Jesus Christ, and that colors my leadership decisions more than any other leadership theory or philosophy. Most of what the example leaders in this book did was just common sense, treating others fairly, following the wisdom of the Proverbs on how we make decisions, and in nearly every case, the results came down to controlling your mouth and treating people correctly. In a few cases, there were true strategic decisions and higher-level leadership skills, but most of the situations were resolved when the “leader” quit gossiping, took time to listen to others, etc.

So all in all, not a waste of time, but not groundbreaking either. I mostly came away feeling secure in the fact that most of my leadership decisions won’t change the world, but that’s okay, I’m still leading correctly.


*Of these, the one that stood out to me the most was the chapter on mixed motives. Essentially he says that we’ll almost always have mixed feelings about the decisions. If I speak up, it could cost me my job, etc. He writes, and correctly I believe, that we can become paralyzed in our decisions because we’re waiting to have pure motives, and that will likely never happen. We’ll always have some part of us that doesn’t want to do the right thing, because of the loss we risk when we finally act. So we have to be prepared to move forward in spite of the mixed feelings.
491 reviews3 followers
June 6, 2019
I couldn't get through this.  Whether the advice is practical or not (and I am not convinced it is), this read like a manual for how to rationalize turning a blind eye to, or even directly contributing to and certainly perpetuating, everything that is wrong with the world today.  I'm exaggerating, but only a little.  We all make compromises to get by and to get along, but this advice qualifies as a whole other level of ethical disaster.
19 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2017
Interesting in proposing quiet leadership against sublimated and hollywood-esque heroic leadership. Simplistic at times with some logical leaps (not too many) and less counter-intuitive that what it pretends too be. Pleasantly read, on the other hand, offers sound advise on prudence and, as said, nicely demystifies the heroic notion of leadership.
Profile Image for Amanda Morningstar.
11 reviews
August 2, 2024
I was skeptical going into this book. It didn’t seem like an inspirational way to view leadership, but it taught me that everyone is called to leadership. We must each act responsibly through quiet leadership to hold true to morals and ethics. I found this book very insightful!
Profile Image for Rachael2.
44 reviews3 followers
July 8, 2021
It was okay, but a lot of the advice amounted to “be smart like this person” which isn’t really helpful.
191 reviews20 followers
September 21, 2012
SImilar to Jim Collin's Level 5 Leader concepts. Quiet leaders, he says, are often characterized by their modesty, restraint and patience.

• Don't Kid Yourself.

Effective leaders are honest b about how well they understand the situation, or how much they control.

Quiet leaders view the world as a kaleidoscope, rather than a fixed target or a well-mapped terrain; self-interest, shortsightedness and chicanery often tumbled together with shards of loyalty, commitment and integrity. The churning is continuous, propelled by forces as far-reaching as the global economy, or as personal as human nature.

• Trust Mixed Motives.

In difficult situations, effective leaders expect their motives to be mixed and even confused. This conflict can actually be useful in solving problems or forging compromises.

Leaders who embrace complexity, both in the world around them and within themselves, or more likely to succeed difficult everyday challenges than individuals who try to airbrush away those stubborn realities and mixed motives.

• Buy a Little Time

If the situation is uncertain or hazardous, leaders may find it necessary to engage in stall tactics or organizational games, to gain enough time to think the situation through. Games that managers play fall into 2 categories: quick fixes and strategic stalling

•Drill Down

Any given situation may involve a morass of technical, bureaucratic or legal details, all of which a leader should understand fully before proceeding toward a solution.

No amount of obsessive behavior can substitute for training, experience and expertise.

If you're in over your head, do not be afraid to back off

• Bend the Rules

These managers look for imaginative or creative ways to bend the rules without breaking them. When they find a way to bend the rules, they seized the opportunity and use it to uphold their values and commitments.

Quiet leaders take initiative, trust their creativity and work hard to create room to maneuver. They approach ethical problems as entrepreneurs, not clerks, enabling them to address the multiple levels and deep intricacies of many day to day problems.

• Nudge, Test and Escalate Gradually

• Craft a Compromise

Quiet leaders see crafting of creative comprise as an invaluable practical art and the essence of responsible leadership.

They believe that crafting a compromise is often a valuable opportunity to learn and exercise practical wisdom, and to defend and express important values in him during, practical ways
Profile Image for Aleshia.
817 reviews23 followers
January 6, 2016
I read this book for my LIS 505 class: Administration & Management of Libraries and Information Centers.

As this was a required book to read for class, I am not 100% sure how to write a review. I definitely would have not normally read such a book. My biggest problem was that the author seems to contradict himself sometimes. For instance, he says that quiet leaders don't give up, but he also says that quiet leaders back off if they are over their head. Aren't backing off and giving up almost one and the same? There weren't that many contradictions, only a few.

I feel like I mostly am a quiet leader naturally myself. I may have a moral reason for doing something, but I have common sense enough to know I have to spin it so people will agree not on morals but on a situation that generally benefits a company (ie status or economics). Though a lot of quiet leadership as defined by this author seems like common sense to me. Maybe it isn't to the world; I am not a people person so I don't know.

A lot of what I and my classmates didn't like about the book is how some of the situations turn out or are performed. They seem sneaky and make quiet leaders look like bad people. Really though, as much as you might hate reading some of the situations, quiet leaders have to find ways to please everyone, so though sneaky and scheming, really it is just so everyone is happy, and let's face it, we probably do that ourselves a lot.
Profile Image for Victor.
220 reviews25 followers
May 2, 2012
This was part of my Ethics class, in which we also read Badaracco's "Defining Moments". Badaracco is very good at illustrating every day examples of situations that require a more unorthodox approach at problem solving. Some times, as he mentions, the best way to take charge is to not "charge to take the hill" but rather understand the situation, study the tools we have, ponder and nudge and then do what we can, without trying to break the rules.

Every chapter is dedicated to a different example on how "quiet leadership" can help us observe and evaluate in a more efficient manner our environment during a difficult situation and how to better help us, as well as others in resolving the situation in a satisfactory way.

Although I enjoyed "Defining Moments" much better, this was also a fresh and effective idea to read for class, while reading for entertainment.
Profile Image for Duong Tan.
133 reviews29 followers
April 13, 2015
Message of this book is quite simple and straightforward: another side of leadership is not noisy as we see it everyday. Quiet leaders see the world as it is, invest time to understand situations and fix small problems, carefully investigate and overcome dilemmas to make the progress. Unlike heroic leaders, quiet leaders strive for balanced, harmonic and ethical decisions.
This book is perfectly companion-ed with "Five Minds for the future" by H. Gardner which deeply discusses the "ethical mind", in psychological perspective. Also, the book stresses implicitly the concept of "practical wisdom" which was introduced nicely by I.Nonaka and H.Takeuchi in the "Wise Leader" series on Harvard Business Review some years ago.
"Leading quietly" + "5 Minds for the future" + "Wise Leader" make a great combo receipt for thought.
Profile Image for Michael.
237 reviews5 followers
June 16, 2019
I first read Leading Quietly as part of the Leadership Development Network, an employee program at Duke Energy. It was my first job out of college, and I was still yet ignorant to the importance of learning after college.

I wish I had reread this book before now. It is an honest look at what it takes to be a great leader. Most leadership books concentrate on the great acts of great titans of leadership. Leading Quietly looks at real life situations, and looks at leadership from a human point of view.

For instance, leaders sometimes have to take their own interests into account before making decisions. Sometimes, leaders have to use tricks and even bend the rules to ensure a positive outcome.

This realistic view makes Leading Quietly an essential book for anyone hoping to become a better leader in today’s professional world.
12 reviews
February 18, 2008
It's been 6 years since I read this and it still stands out as one of the most interesting leadership books I've read. It's about the leaders in the background or in the middle or oranizations who make a big difference by making (often) unnoticed but critical decisions and choices. I still remember the chapter on "drilling down" about how important it can be to do the tedious leg work and research to get to the core issues behind a problem. This book uses real-life scenarios of actual situations. I probably think of this book at least once a month when I meet someone who is leading quietly - there are a lot people doing just that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
9 reviews
June 6, 2014
I read this book as part of an MBA class 20 years ago when I was early in my career. I enjoyed it then because it illustrated how you don't need to be a charismatic leader to be a good leader. I read it a second time with a lot of management experience and found the book very repetitious and academic. The little that I can find on the author indicates he has been in academia for most of his career which is why this reads like a text book of illustrations or a summary of third party research instead of coming from real life experience. I love the topic, but I'm sure there are other books available by people who are actively working in corporate America that are more impactful.
Profile Image for Robin Peake.
186 reviews12 followers
April 2, 2016
A rather boring book about some rather 'boring' leaders, which in a way, helped me question my view of who makes a leader.

Badaracco is adamant that life is not about the heroes and their heroic acts (the foam on the waves as he calls them), but that small acts can have a big impact - and even if they don't, they're often still the right thing to do.

It's helped me value my approach to situations - often pragmatic, considering a range of possible outcomes, and attempting to buy time to help me make a better decision

Best Quote: "In life, as in war, the shortest route is usually mined."
8 reviews6 followers
December 16, 2008
Of the hundred or so management/ethics/leadership books I have read, this one is the most specific, realistic that I have read. Situations are usually complex, and there are risks involved to the leader in any solution. Also like how the author redefines a hero as someone who acts courageously in small everyday ways, and unlike most heros in our culture, is rarely noticed or acknowledged for her/his brave acts. A must read.
Profile Image for Taiyo Tanoue.
23 reviews
August 26, 2011
読了。リーダーと聞いてどんなイメージが浮かぶだろう。力強く正義感にあふれ、あるべき方向に組織を導くためには時に自己犠牲もいとわないヒーローのような存在だろうか。不確実性の増している現代世界においては倫理的な難題に直面することが往々にしてあるが、ヒーローならぬ静かなリーダーは忍耐強く、思慮深く取り組み、小さな努力を積み上げて犠牲を最小限に抑えながら大きな成果を上げる。本書は極論すればグレーゾーンの軍配の捌き方を実践的に教えてくれる稀有な本。「時間を稼いで時期をうかがう」「規則を拡大解釈する」「妥協案を探る」「自制・謙遜・粘り強さ」「自分の価値観を守る」など、非常に現実的な処方が書かれていて特に中間管理職や専門職には参考になるところが多い。会社を日々少しずつ前進させているのはCEOというヒーローよりもこういった静かなリーダーシップを実践している人々、自分の中に持っている「こうありたい」というリーダー像が変わること請け合い。
Profile Image for Chris.
3 reviews1 follower
May 9, 2012
Too often it is the bold, audacious characteristics of leadership that get noticed. This book takes a look at the other side of leadership, the humble, behind-the-scenes leaders who look out for the good of all and establish themselves more by what they do outside the limelight than by what they do on center stage. This has become the book I gift to all aspiring leaders in my life.
Profile Image for Butch Hamilton.
21 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2012
Impactful leadership is not always about waving your arms and saying follow me. Being a change agent is sometimes lying low, picking your battles, becoming an expert, and gathering allies. Even though I read this a decade ago, I still refer to the many lessons contained in Badaracco's book. If one has a list of leadership books to read, this should be included.
Profile Image for Katie.
984 reviews
February 22, 2014
Read it for my administration and management class. He spends most of the book constructing weak arguments against his principles and then tearing them down. Not very well-written or well-argued, which is too bad, because I can see how some of the principles could be useful, but I kept getting distracted by faulty logic.
Profile Image for Christie.
126 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2010
This is a very different kind of leadership book. It was very refreshing to hear a different perspective on leading (as opposed to the Jack Welch personalities of the world). Also, a reasonable, yet moral, approach to ethics.
Profile Image for Words Deeds.
23 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2011
A little like Goleman's "Emotional Intelligence." Yet another book that proves that being good and doing what you say are actually behaviors that generate significantly more positive results than being greedy (on average).
Profile Image for Kim.
1,495 reviews18 followers
November 20, 2011
Written by Harvard Business School Professor Joseph Badaracco, Jr., Leading Quietly shows that one does not need to be a hero to be a leader. By showing restraint, buying time to think and looking for the best option for all involved, people can make little changes that add up over time.
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