Leadership Passages: The Personal and Professional Transitions That Make or Break a Leader

by David L. Dotlich, James L. Noel

Leaders face numerous critical crossroads in their careers, moments that can provide extraordinary learning and growth opportunities or ensnare them and prevent further development. The good thing about these passages is that they’re predictable, and with proper preparation, leaders not only can survive them to become stronger but can use these experiences to enhance their leadership, compassion, and effectiveness. This book lays out thirteen specific “leadership passages” based on research, interviews, and coaching of senior executives in such well-known companies as Johnson & Johnson, Novarits, Intel, GE, and Bank of America. For each passage, the authors describe what to expect, how the passage constitutes a choice point, and what effective leaders do to navigate and grow from the challenge. Some of the passages moving into a leadership role for the first time, dealing with significant failure for which you are responsible, derailing/losing your job, being acquired/merging, losing faith in the system, understanding the importance of children, family and friends, and personal upheavals such as divorce, illness, and death. The authors provide a wealth of practical tools and techniques to improve your leadership, along with real-life examples from recognizable leaders and breakthrough ways in which companies can use the concept of leadership passages to grow talent.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Mark Schleier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. I’m going through a few leadership passages now, and this book really helped draw out reflection opportunities to help me cope and grow as a leader.

Ch.8 dealing with a bad boss was amazing... Absolutely one of the most useful chapters of a book I’ve ever read. Everyone should read it, because we all have to deal with this at times in our life.

I docked it 1 star because some of the passages and corresponding actions become redundant, which is fine, but the chapters could have been merged so there were fewer passages in total (to help commit them all to memory).

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for any leader but especially those young in their careers. In the context of 13 “passages,” those challenging experiences any rising leader will face, the authors combine their executive coaching experience with some of the best leadership material to provide extremely helpful guidance for maximizing the learning possible in the experience.

[Omar Halabieh · Rating 4 out of 5]

As best summarized by the authors: "We have selected thirteen passages to describe in this book...we have chosen the thirteen that senior leaders mention most often and describe as particularly compelling or intense. If you work ling enough, you will experience many of these passages, perhaps all of them. When you do, you will find them to be emotionally, intellectually, and even spiritually intense. And they are passages because as the world indicates, they take you from one place to another you see the world and yourself differently after you've gone through the events and emotional states that define each passage...Our goal is to help you understand, learn from, and navigate the passages successfully. If you do, you will dramatically increase your leadership effectiveness. If you don't, you'll risk bypassing the most important leadership development experience you can face: your own life."

Below are key excerpts from the book that summarize the main points:

1- "Although, everyone experiences adversity and diversity in unique ways, the general nature of these experiences can be predicted and prepared for. When you know the passages you will encounter, you're better able to maximize their value as learning tools...they're organized according to the four quadrants of the matrix: (1) diversity of work experiences, (2) work adversity, (3) diversity of life experiences, and (4) life adversity."

2- "Ultimately, the way we use our skills, obtain results, or establish relationships is contingent on our internal awareness of who we are. If we're blind to our weak spots, they're bound to trip us up."

3- "Without a failure or two along the way, leaders never have to move out of their comfort zones, adjust their identities, or develop their capacity for compassion...Failure, though, can also deepen you. It gives you a sense of your own fallibility and forces you to reassess your point of view."

4- "Companies therefore need to be proactive in helping their new executives deal with this passage; the first thing they should do is counsel them on the implicit rules of the culture and how to maximize the impact of their entry and minimize the cultural upheaval...follow this five-step method to learn and grow as you move through the passage: 1) Identify the gap between the company's intention and your experience...2) Focus on your boss and learn to read him accurately...3) Build a coalition that stretches throughout the organization...4) Diagnose the culture yourself...5) Create a time-focused vision of what you want to accomplish."

5- "Challenges for First-Time leaders: 1) Losing an Identity...2) Seeing your Star Dim...3) Balancing People and Tasks. The Normality of Struggle: 1) Reflect and talk about the feedback your receive...2) Heed your instincts...3) Make the time to focus on people...4) Grasp the network of influence and politics...5) Don't abuse your power. 6) Do the right thing, but don't be convinced you always know what the right thing is."

6- "The Role of Paradox in Business: 1) Value the unfamiliar...2) Display a hang-in-there mentality...3) Accept the paradoxical nature of work."

7- "Four Dos in Dealing with Failure: 1) Examine your decisions that catalyzed the failure...2) Talk to your boss, a coach, or some other trusted adviser about this incident...3) Reflect on what you might do differently in the future...4) Summon the energy to persevere."

8- "A bad boss or peer is a reverse role model - one you can use to guide yourself away from counterproductive actions and attitudes. To take advantage of these three learnings, we recommend the following steps: 1) Choose an interpersonal strategy to manage the relationship...2) Ask yourself what your reaction to a boss or peer says about you...3) Define your values."

9- "How to Grow from Being Diminished: 1) Refuse to allow the event define you...2) Understand why it happened...3) Use your support network...4) Develop a "what next" strategy."

10- "Learning More Than How To Keep Your Job (in an M&A): 1) Figure out new rules quickly and start playing by them...2) Remain a strong leader despite your sense of vulnerability...3) Transcend the politics while focusing on the mission...4) Maintain an open mind...5) Create a new network. Growing as a Company Changes: 1) Determine if you should remain with the new company... 2) Work at assessing and expressing how you feel about the merger or acquisition...3) Reconnect to the company...4) Keep the lines of communication open with your direct reports...5) Be patient."

11- "How to Take Advantage of a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity (living in a different country or culture)...1) Adopt an adventurer's mind-set...2) Learn first; teach second...3) Function effectively without knowing the rules or how to behave."

12- "Finding a Meaningful Balance Between Work and Family...1) Let your values be your work-family guide. 2) Involve your partner early on in your decisions about work and family...3) Monitor your attitude towards success."

13- "How to Manage Upheaval: 1) Reveal your vulnerabilities...2) Be authentic...3) Accept fate and move on."

14- "Leadership Development Is About Experiences: 1) Stretch assignments 2) Education 3) Key Relationships 4) Outside activities 5) Coaching 6) Diverse experiences 7) Living abroad 8) Feedback 9) Selection and Staffing."

15- "An Eight-Step Survive-And-Thrive Guide: 1) Learn Resilience...2) Accept Personal Responsibility...3) Reflect...4) Seek support from your partner, family, friends, and professionals...5) Develop and Use a Professional Network...6) Seek Refuge...7) Gain Perspective...8) Take Risks."

16- "The thirteen predictable, intense passages can certainly be stressful, confusing, and emotionally volatile periods in your life. They are also the foundation with which you can become stronger, more humane, and more effective leader. With insight, reflection, and a strong dose of self-forgiveness, you can turn the experiences of your life and career into personal growth for yourself and for others."

[Todd Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been through many of these passages, handling some well and others not so well, I found this book too late in life. It underscores many actions I have learned to over the years... the hard way. It made me reflect on a few instances I could have done better. I did think the last chapter was a good action plan to keep in front if you at all times. Like many other books it talks so much about CEOs that the reader who has not experienced some of these passages may have trouble relating. However, the advice applies to all of us.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great leadership roadmap

An excellent book that would be an asset to any new, established, or struggling leader striving to maximize personal development and influence.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as business, leadership books go, this was an excellent description of many of the major trials that one has to go through and how to deal with them. Unlike many of the business books I have read in the past, this one was not written at a 4th grade level, but for mature adults. Also, it didn't make use of annoying business buzz words or overuse of abbreviations and acronyms. I thought that the sections on dealing with adverse conditions were especially good and relevant to just about all readers.

My one complaint about the book is that it makes it sound as if climbing the corporate ladder is the end all and be all of work life. It doesn't really discuss the possibility of becoming an entrepreneur which is a very viable 'passage' in and of itself. Also, I believe the book puts too much focus on overworking (6 - 7 days a week, 10+ hours a day is often implied) which I firmly believe is not a healthy, necessary, or productive means of accomplishing business goals. There is a great body of research that discusses how people that tend to work shorter hours are more focused and more productive than people that work longer hours.

For understanding leadership though, I can't think of a better primer than this book.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very practical. This was a library read that I bought afterwards, so I could have it for reference.