Author Rob Goffee & Gareth Jones
Country United States
Genre Management
Publication Date 2006
Pages 217
If you are looking for a management book that's real and authentic, then this could easily be your pick! The fact that this is far removed from any standard leadership theories makes it easily relatable; thereby striking an instant chord. And the title of the book: 'Why should anyone be led by you?' triggers enough curiosity to make one pick up the book.
The authors have done a commendable job in very simply defining true leadership. And this statement of mine is really an oxymoron since the very essence of the book is that there is really no definition of leadership and one has to do what works best for him. 'Being yourself' is a powerful theme in the book. Managing inherent tensions like 'being authentic while conforming enough'; 'establishing intimacy while maintaining a distance' is another core theme espoused by the book.
While there are a number of key messages, personally for me what has been a huge insight is the fact that while it's important to retain one's authenticity, one really does need to conform enough, especially in the beginning to establish oneself in an organisation.
Another interesting insight for me was the entire concept of work life balance and how according to the authors, it's not just about spending more time at home but rather about transforming workplaces into arenas that allow for the display of authenticity. That, to me, is a really fresh way of looking at the concept of work life balance.
Like I have shared before, I am definitely not a fan of management books but reading this one has definitely been a fresh and enriching experience!
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So, do check it out and Happy Reading!
