AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP
By Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans

Authentic Leadership is a wonderfully refreshing and different approach to creating companies that are based on character-driven, values-based leadership. Bill George, former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, presents a fairly simple framework of a new approach to leading companies.

Authentic leaders have a deep sense of purpose and are true to their core values. They genuinely desire to serve others through their leadership. The concept of values-based leadership and service is not new. Back in 1993, Peter Block introduced these concepts in his book Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self-Interest. What differentiates George from the others is that he lived this philosophy, building Medtronic into one of today’s greatest companies.

One point in particular that will capture the heart of any HR professional is his emphasis, indeed his insistence, on leading a balanced life. He challenges aspiring leaders to practice self-discipline, to put work on equal footing with life and family, because “a balanced life makes a better leader.”

In Authentic Leadership, George challenges all of us to practice ethical leadership. Read this book, then pass it on to leaders within your organization. Perhaps this book will help all of us transform the amoral, often brutal work environments so prevalent today into authentic companies in which we can all be proud to work.

Authentic Leadership is available online from Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com) at 30% off for $19.56.

(Submitted by Alice Waagen, January 2004)

Note: We invite book reports from members on specialty or general interest publications related to the Human Resources field. Submissions are published in the monthly newsletter and posted on the Chapter website. Email your book review to Dulles SHRM Communications Director Nancy Streeter (nabss@aol.com).

Additional Reviews:

- HR From The Heart
- Human Resource Management In The Knowledge Economy
- Assimilating New Leaders: The Key To Executive Retention
- Why The Bottom Line Isn't
- Stress-Free Performance Appraisals
- Love It, Don't Leave It: 26 Ways To Get What You Want At Work
- Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em - Getting Good People to Stay