WALK THE WALK: The #1 Rule for Real Leaders
By Alan Deutschman
Pub. Date Sept. 3, 2009

True and inspiring stories of authentic leadership for tough times

 
Leadership is the art of transforming how people think, feel and act.

Though some experts make it seem complicated, it really has only two elements: what you say and how you act. And according to Alan Deutschman, most aspiring leaders focus too much on words and not nearly enough on setting an example.

Deutschman profiles a wide range of leaders (in business, education, the military, and non-profits) who always walked the walk, especially when times got tough. In a skeptical world, that gave them more credibility than even the best possible speeches. Consider how:

• Martin Luther King Jr. proved his commitment to nonviolence by letting a racist detractor beat him in front of a crowded auditorium.

• Herb Kelleher and Colleen Barrett of Southwest Airlines showed they were serious about putting employees first by sticking to a no-layoffs policy, no matter what.

• Sony founder Masuro Ibuka, who stressed originality over profits, waited for years to release a color television, until the Trinitron was a true breakthrough.

Deutschman also shows the devastating consequences of not walking the walk, even on seemingly minor matters. Consider how the CEOs of GM and Chrysler hurt their chances of a government bailout by flying their private jets to Washington.

The eye-opening examples in Walk the Walk will inspire leaders at all levels to rethink their priorities.

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