Choosing Leadership: A Workbook

by Linda Ginzel

Choosing Leadership is a new take on executive development that gives everyone the tools to develop their leadership skills. In this workbook, Dr. Linda Ginzel, a clinical professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a social psychologist, debunks common myths about leaders and encourages you to follow a personalized path to decide when to manage and when to lead. Thoughtful exercises and activities help you mine your own experiences, learn to recognize behavior patterns, and make better choices so that you can create better futures. You’ll learn how Dr. Linda Ginzel is a clinical professor of managerial psychology at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and the founder of its customized executive education program. For three decades, she has developed and taught MBA and executive education courses in negotiation, leadership capital, managerial psychology, and more. She has also taught MBA and PhD students at Northwestern and Stanford, as well as designed customized educational programs for a number of Fortune 500 companies. Ginzel has received numerous teaching awards for excellence in MBA education, as well as the President’s Service Award for her work with the nonprofit Kids In Danger. She lives in Chicago with her family.

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership

152 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2018

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a free morning so I chose to spend it reading this book - Choosing Leadership. What a great choice I made! This book is actually a workbook that explains concepts, shares anecdotes and examples and then offers thoughtful and insightful questions to help the reader reflect on their own behaviors that will help them become stronger leaders and managers. A morning was enough time to read through the workbook but I will be returning to the reflections and specific questions over the coming weeks to follow the author’s advice and write down my thoughts so that I can continue to develop them over time.

As you build your career the concepts and questions in this workbook will help you focus on what’s important to you as a champion (author’s term for leading and managing). The workbook offers the opportunity for deep self reflection that will help you better define your managing and leading behaviors and values, what draws you or detracts you from these behaviors and values, and what will work best for you in the future. According to the author, leaders create a different future and this book will help you create yours.

[Michelle Monticello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard book to rate because its true value comes from what you learn and how you apply it to your life. I would compare this to attending a conference or a retreat. When someone asks "How was the conference?" or "How was the retreat?" I usually respond with "Ask me in 30 days". For me, that's the true measure of something like this. Did it impact me? How did it impact me? I can't answer that until enough time has past to answer those questions.
I read this over 6 months as a mini book club with my sister. It has definitely made a difference in my life so far and I believe it will continue to do so.
Take time to read this book. Sure, you can quickly read it (130 pages or so) but, the true value in the book is what you learn. Do the assignments. Reflect on them later. Read it with someone else (or a group of people) and share your thoughts.

[Cherry Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a different approach compared to many other leadership books available in the market. It asks deep questions to help you think deeper about your pen leadership choices. I find it practical and actionable.

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Ginzel, a social psychologist, has been studying and teaching leadership for three decades at University of Chicago. This book is a serious exploration of the concept of leadership and how each person can learn themselves well enough to know when they will choose to lead.

I read this book in conjunction with taking Professor Ginzel's Choosing Leadership class during the fall of 2021. I was blown away by the experience! I learned so many useful concepts and frameworks to bolster my self-development and enhance my own leadership journey so that I can "be wiser younger".

This book and the class were a life-changing experience I would recommend to anyone. I also recommend doing the class/workbook with a friend or colleague to enhance the experience - someone who is also interested in self-exploration to discuss the ideas and share what you've learned with.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. It brings up interesting perspectives. I liked the workbook style but some of the assignments were pretty huge. I probably spent much more time on the assignments than the material in the book. That can be either good or bad, depending on your perspective.

[Katelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull and unhelpful.