Heart First: Lasting Leader Lessons from a Year that Changed Everything

by David Grossman, Alisa McGowan (Foreword)

For more than three decades, award-winning leadership and communication expert David Grossman has helped scores of leaders become great leader communicators who drive impressive results for their organizations. Naturally, the global pandemic and mounting racial unrest of 2020 handed leaders one of their biggest challenges yet, with a level of social and economic tumult not seen in more than a century. Despite the upheaval, many leaders rose to the occasion, often by drawing not just from experience and wise counsel, but from being human as they led – what Grossman calls Heart First leadership.

In Heart First, Grossman explores the many aspects of being more authentic in leadership and how that can profoundly inspire a team and move them to achieve remarkable things, especially in times of change or crisis. Heart First also features interviews with CEOs and guest columns from senior leaders inside a variety of organizations, each of whom share extraordinarily candid insights and unique lessons learned from a year that changed everything.

Leaders featured in the book include:
・Tamer Abuaita, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain, SC Johnson
・Paula Angelo, Vice President, Internal and CEO Communications, The Hartford
・Nadeen Ayala, Chief Communications Office, ABM Industries
・Liru Chan, Head of Marketing, Visa Singapore
・Adam Collins, Chief Communications & Corporate Affairs Office, Molson Coors
・Sherri Dublin, Vice President DE&I, Culture, Engagement and Communications, Ingredion
・Lisa Keltner, Senior Director, Inclusion and Diversity, Baxter
・Erin Loverher, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Walgreens
・Ken Meyers, Former CHRO, Hillrom
・Triona Schmelter, Chief Transformation Officer, TreeHouse Foods
・Stephen Smith, Chairmen, President and CEO of Amsted Industries
・Matt Snow, CEO, DHG
・Victor Swint, CEO, Tecomet
・And many others.

352 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2021

About the author

David Grossman is the founder and CEO of The Grossman Group, a communications consultancy.

See also other authors with similar names.

Reviews

[Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully designed book that looked like it should have been really great but ultimately falls short of that.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully designed book that, other than the design, lacked on originality and suffered from repetition. I appreciated so many aspects of it, from the personal memos from field leaders to the step-by-step guides, but so much of the book felt like buzzwords and encouragement that now seems a little obvious, especially to anyone who's studied PR or comms. The book's ending was strong, with Grossman's perspective, especially since he has such a unique life story, but the last few pages felt like an advertisement.
Still, though, parts of this were helpful and specific, such as the information on current communication methods (though more examples would have been helpful). The layout of the book was also neat, well-organized with an interesting introduction section. Yet it could have been stronger by being a little more personal, like the ending section was, and a little less repetitive.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book fits into all of the DEI, BLM, CRT, LGBT, WEF and NWO agendas. Enough said. Additionally, a lot of the book is about covid, which isn’t relevant. And the guy who had the idea for the book copped out and had other people write most of it in the form of verbatim interviews. Certain sections of the book are repeated throughout, making it a redundant read.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical corporate rah rah book that leads with a cast of all male CEOs patting themselves on the back for what a great job they did during the pandemic. No doubt the entire content is filled by the author and consulting company’s clients.

[Kaylee Seitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received my copy at PRSSA Icon where I also met David, he is such a great person!! I am very thankful for this book and definitely took away lots of lessons (my notebook has several pages filled with notes). This is my first book like this and I’m excited to get my hands on more!