Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership How to Make a Difference Regardless of Your Title, Role, or Authority

Learn how you can tackle everyday leadership challenges regardless of your title, position, or authority with this insightful resource

A book about leadership for people who are not in formal or hierarchical leadership positions, Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership provides readers with a comprehensive and practical approach to addressing leadership challenges, no matter the setting or circumstance. Esteemed scholars and sought-after consultants Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner adapt their trademark The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership^® framework to today’s more horizontal workplace, showing people that leadership is not about where you are in the organization; it’s about how you behave and what you do.

Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership draws on the authors’ deep well of research and practical experience to cover key subjects:

• The essence of making a difference in any role, setting, or situation 
• The difference between positions of authority and leadership
• The importance of self-development in leadership development

This book is perfectly applicable and accessible for anyone who wants to improve their own leadership potential and who isn’t yet in an official leadership role. Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership offers authoritative new insights, original case studies and examples, and practical guidance for those individuals who want to make a difference. You supply the will, and this book will supply the way.

James Kouzes is the Dean's Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, and lectures on leadership around the world to corporations, governments, and nonprofits.

Barry Posner is Accolti Professor of Leadership and former Dean (1997-2009) of the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University. An accomplished scholar, he also provides leadership workshops and seminars around the world.

Preface: The Premise and the Promise xiii

Who Should Read This Book?

Research-Based Practices

A Guidebook on Leadership

The Future of Leadership

1 Leadership Is Not a Position 1

Leadership Is a Relationship

Credibility Is the Foundation of Leadership

The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership

Model the Way

Inspire a Shared Vision

Challenge the Process

Enable Others to Act

Encourage the Heart

You Are Already Leading

Leadership Makes a Difference

2 Model the Way 23

Clarify Your Values

Explore Your Inner Territory

Discover Your Voice

Build and Affirm Shared Values

Lead by Example

Spend Your Time and Attention Wisely

Turn Critical Incidents into Teachable Moments

Tell Stories to Reinforce Values

and Connect with Actions

Watch Your Language

Ask Purposeful Questions

Seek Feedback

Take Action to Model the Way

3 Inspire a Shared Vision 51

Clarify Your Vision

Discover Your Theme

Explore Your Past

Immerse Yourself

Get Others on Board

Listen Deeply

Discover a Common Purpose

Take Pride in Being Unique

Create Images of the Future

Practice Positive Communication and Be Expressive

Take Action to Inspire a Shared Vision

4 Challenge the Process 77

Seize the Initiative to Improve

Make Something Happen

Make Challenge Meaningful

Look Outward for Fresh Ideas

Experiment and Take Risks

Make It Safe to Take Risks

Make Small Wins Work

Learn from Mistakes

Adopt a Learning Mindset

Be Resilient

Take Action to Challenge the Process

5 Enable Others to Act 105

Foster Collaboration and Build Trust

Show Concern for Others

Facilitate Positive Interdependence and Reciprocity

Be More Giving

Maintain Durable Social Connections

Strengthen Others

Provide Choices

Build Competence and Confidence

Foster Personal Responsibility and Accountability

Coach and Mentor

Take Action to Enable Others to Act

6 Encourage the Heart 133

Expect the Best

Adopt a Winning Attitude

Pay Attention to Provide Useful Feedback

Develop Friendships

Personalize Recognition

Use a Creative Mix of Recognitions

Create a Spirit of Community

Provide Social Support

Celebrate and Have Some Fun

Be Personally Involved

Take Action to Encourage the Heart

7 Leadership Development Is Self-Development 161

Leadership Matters

Leadership Can Be Learned

Fundamentals for Learning Leadership

How People Learn to Lead

Experience: Learning by Doing

Example: Learning by Observing Others

Education: Learning Through Training and Coursework

Become Your Best Self

Our Aspiration for You

Appendix: The Research Basis for This Book 177

Endnotes 181

Acknowledgments 197

About the Authors 199

Index 203

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