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Once Upon a Leader: Finding the Story at the Heart of your Leadership
Take charge of your leadership story―and write a new chapter
There are moments in just about every leadership journey when the path forward suddenly feels unclear. Struck by uncertainty and a lack of confidence, your sense of self―and your clarity of purpose―is out of balance. It’s as if you have ceased to be the hero in your own story. At times of periods of disruption and transition like these, you need a rewrite.
As a senior leader, what holds you back is often not a lack of skills or knowledge, but a fragmented and patchy leadership narrative that is frozen in time. A growing body of research suggests that many leaders are guided by a core narrative that defines not only how they see themselves, but that acts as a key source of personal motivation, drive and action. When your leadership stalls, it’s a sign that your story has taken you as far as it can―and it’s time to reauthor a new leadership narrative.
In this transformative guide to leadership development, executive coaches and leadership experts Rick Lash and Christine Miners illuminate how your internal narrator acts as the operating system of your mind―and how, like any OS, it can become outdated and overstretched (because it was mainly installed in your teens and early 20s). Through engaging stories, research-backed insights, and techniques, you’ll gain the tools to re-engage and update the story that you tell yourself, so you can operate at a higher, more effective level.
As you edit and upgrade your internal narrator, you’ll develop a personal story that is more grounded and anchored in your true one that is less fragile, more resilient, and able to withstand the relentless pressures of leadership―and life.
There are moments in just about every leadership journey when the path forward suddenly feels unclear. Struck by uncertainty and a lack of confidence, your sense of self―and your clarity of purpose―is out of balance. It’s as if you have ceased to be the hero in your own story. At times of periods of disruption and transition like these, you need a rewrite.
As a senior leader, what holds you back is often not a lack of skills or knowledge, but a fragmented and patchy leadership narrative that is frozen in time. A growing body of research suggests that many leaders are guided by a core narrative that defines not only how they see themselves, but that acts as a key source of personal motivation, drive and action. When your leadership stalls, it’s a sign that your story has taken you as far as it can―and it’s time to reauthor a new leadership narrative.
In this transformative guide to leadership development, executive coaches and leadership experts Rick Lash and Christine Miners illuminate how your internal narrator acts as the operating system of your mind―and how, like any OS, it can become outdated and overstretched (because it was mainly installed in your teens and early 20s). Through engaging stories, research-backed insights, and techniques, you’ll gain the tools to re-engage and update the story that you tell yourself, so you can operate at a higher, more effective level.
As you edit and upgrade your internal narrator, you’ll develop a personal story that is more grounded and anchored in your true one that is less fragile, more resilient, and able to withstand the relentless pressures of leadership―and life.
200 pages, Hardcover
Published September 20, 2022
8 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 27, 2023
Lash and Miners have crafted a compelling book full of wonderful anecdotes and ideas. Their belief in the idea of "telling your own story" is powerful and resonated with me.
This is a valuable book for anyone who has ever faced the daunting task of leading others, or is in the process of becoming a leader. It's all about being an authentic, personal, kind person, a leader that shows others how they need to lead.
Their concept of an "internal narrator" is brilliant and now I have a name for that little voice that's been running in my head for decades - and a realization that I need to update my internal narration regularly to ensure I can be fully the leader others expect me to be.
Well written, interesting and full of great insights, this is a book everyone, leader and non-leader alike, can appreciate. I highly recommend it.
PS: I've known Doctor Lash for many years, so my enthusiasm for this book might be partly tinged by that friendship. But if I step back and look at Once Upon A Leader from the perspective of a human being living in the 21st century and needing to be relevant and thoughtful, this is a book that can make anyone (even me!) rethink their narrative and find the story at the heart of my leadership.
This is a valuable book for anyone who has ever faced the daunting task of leading others, or is in the process of becoming a leader. It's all about being an authentic, personal, kind person, a leader that shows others how they need to lead.
Their concept of an "internal narrator" is brilliant and now I have a name for that little voice that's been running in my head for decades - and a realization that I need to update my internal narration regularly to ensure I can be fully the leader others expect me to be.
Well written, interesting and full of great insights, this is a book everyone, leader and non-leader alike, can appreciate. I highly recommend it.
PS: I've known Doctor Lash for many years, so my enthusiasm for this book might be partly tinged by that friendship. But if I step back and look at Once Upon A Leader from the perspective of a human being living in the 21st century and needing to be relevant and thoughtful, this is a book that can make anyone (even me!) rethink their narrative and find the story at the heart of my leadership.
September 27, 2022
Grounded in both science and real stories of leaders, this book provided useful insights and a clear set of practices for discovering one’s own leadership narrative. The authors are clearly passionate about the importance and impact that discovering or “reclaiming” one’s narrative can bring to a leader. I found the chapter on “why we give up authorship” of our narrative particularly relevant and informative on the risks and challenges leaders face in being truly authentic. The last half of the book provides a clear and informative guide with many examples from leaders and useful tools/practices.
September 27, 2023
Incredible insights from two respected and revered leaders. As we age, our story changes and that is often influenced by the world around us. This book underlines the return to ourselves, our authenticity, and our STORY. They are all connected, and this book shares a direct path to success.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews