Becoming the Best : Build a World-Class Organization Through Values-Based Leadership (Hardcover)--by Jr. Harry M. Jansen Kraemer [2015 Edition] ISBN: 9781118999424

What does it mean in practice to be a values-based leader? When faced with real situations, how can you be your best self and create best teams—while also being a best partner with customers and vendors, a best investment for your stakeholders, and a best citizen making a difference in the world? It's a tall order, but these are the expectations for world-class organizations today. In his bestselling book From Values to Action , Harry Kraemer showed how self-reflection, balance, true self-confidence, and genuine humility are the traits of today's most effective leaders. In Becoming the Best , his highly anticipated follow-up, Kraemer reveals how, in practical terms, anyone can apply these principles to become a values-based leader and to help create values-based organizations. Drawing on his own experiences as the former CEO and chairman of Baxter International, as well as those of other notable leaders and organizations, Kraemer lays out a pathway for understanding the principles and putting them into practice, showing specifically, how to: Use self-reflection to become your "best self" as you lead yourself and others more effectively Create a "best team" that understands and appreciates what they're doing, and why Forge "best partnerships" through win/win collaboration with vendors and customers that enhance the end user's experience Support the mission, vision, and values of the organization to generate returns that distinguish a "best investment" Make a difference in the world beyond the organization by becoming a "best citizen" Powerful case studies from Campbell's Soup, Ernst & Young, Target, Northern Trust, and many others demonstrate the four principles of values-based leadership in action and show how thinking beyond the corporation can trigger positive outcomes for both the company and the world. Regardless of level or job title, individuals can make a difference in their organization and beyond by embodying the essential traits of a great leader. Becoming the Best offers a definitive, actionable guide to show anyone how to apply in practice the principles of values-based leadership personally and professionally, making it an indispensable manual for the new wave of better leaders. All of Harry's proceeds from the book sales are donated to the One Acre Fund in Africa. In his first book, From Values to Action, Harry Kraemer introduced the four principles of values-based leadership: self-reflection, balance, true self-confidence, and genuine humility. Now, in this highly-anticipated follow-up, Kraemer shows exactly how, in practical terms, to apply these principles in daily life. People at every level, with any job title, from the newest team members to the CEO, can and should become values-based leaders. Whether someone is the CEO of a company that employs 100,000 people or an entry-level person who just graduated from college, they can make a difference in their organizations, and beyond. Bringing Your Best Self to Work offers both explanations and concrete examples, drawing on Kraemer's own experiences, interaction with leaders at every level, and notable leaders and organizations. This book lays out a pathway from understanding the four principles to putting them into practice by describing five key areas or dimensions that define what it means to be the "best." They are: * Best Self - You actualize who you are meant to become, with fuller self-knowledge of and a deeper understanding that in order to influence people, you need to relate to them first. * Best Team - All team members understand and appreciate what they're doing, why they're doing it, and how that fits with and fulfills the goals and objectives of the organization. * Best Partner - The organization, its vendors and suppliers forge a partnership in order to enhance the customer experience. Each party understands what the organization is trying to do and why, as it provides products and/or services. * Best Investment - Everyone in the organization focuses on generating a return for the owners (whether stockholders, debt holders, a foundation, or other stakeholders) through positive and meaningful actions that support the mission, vision, and values of the organization. * Best Citizen - From the C-suite to the most junior levels of the organization, everyone is focused not only on success, but also significance, through social responsibility and making a difference in the world, beyond the organization and its people. With powerful case studies of real leaders from organization such as Campbell's Soup, Ernst & Young, Target, Northern Trust, and many others, readers will feel empowered to bring their "best selves" to work, and create the best teams, best partners, best investments, and best citizens. Bringing Your Best Self to Work is an essential guide for putting the principles of values-based leadership in action "What does it mean in practice to be a values-based leader? When faced with real situations, how can you be your best self and create best teams - while also being a best partner with customers and vendors, a best investment for your stakeholders, and a best citizen making a difference in the world? It's a tall order, but these are the expectations for world-class organizations today. In his bestselling book From Values to Action, Harry Kraemer showed how self-reflection, balance, true self-confidence, and genuine humility are the traits of today's most effective leaders. In Becoming the Best, his highly anticipated follow-up, Kraemer reveals how, in practical terms, anyone can apply these principles to become a values-based leader and to help create values-based organizations. Drawing on his own experiences as the former CEO and chairman of Baxter International, as well as those of other notable leaders and organizations, Kraemer lays out a pathway for understanding the principles and putting them into practice, showing specifically, how to: use self-reflection to become your 'best self' as you lead yourself and others more effectively; create a 'best team' that understands and appreciates what they're doing, and why; forge 'best partnerships' through win/win collaboration with vendors and customers that enhance the end user's experience; support the mission, vision, and values of the organization to generate returns that distinguish a 'best investment'; make a difference in the world beyond the organization by becoming a 'best citizen'. Powerful case studies from Campbell's Soup, Ernst & Young, Target, Northern Trust, and many others demonstrate the four principles of values-based leadership in action and show how thinking beyond the corporation can trigger positive outcomes for both the company and the world. Regardless of level or job title, individuals can make a difference in their organization and beyond by embodying the essential traits of a great leader. Becoming the Best offers a definitive, actionable guide to show anyone how to apply in practice the principles of values-based leadership personally and professionally, making it an indispensable manual for the new wave of better leaders."--Publisher's description Kraemer reveals how anyone can apply principles to become a values-based leader and create values-based organizations. He lays out a pathway for understanding the following four principles : use self-reflection to become your "best self" as you lead yourself and others more effectively; create a "best team" that understands and appreciates what they're doing, and why; forge "best partnerships" through win/win collaboration with vendors and customers that enhance the end user's experience ; support the mission, vision, and values of the organization to generate returns that distinguish a "best investment"; make a difference in the world beyond the organization by becoming a "best citizen." Case studies from Campbell's Soup, Ernst & Young, Target, Northern Trust and others demonstrate the four principles of values-based leadership in action and show how thinking beyond the corporation can trigger positive outcomes for both the company and the world. -- Edited summary from book