Leadership and the art of struggle : how great leaders grow through challenge and adversity. Summary

All Leaders Face Adversity. Exceptional Leaders Thrive in It. Leadership is often a struggle, and yet strong taboos keep us from talking openly and honestly about our difficulties for fear of looking weak and seeming to lack confidence. But Steven Snyder shows that this discussion is vital{u2014}adversity is precisely what unlocks our greatest potential. Using real-life stories drawn from his extensive research studying 151 diverse episodes of leadership struggle{u2014}as well as from his experiences working with Bill Gates in the early years of Microsoft and as a CEO and executive coach{u2014}Snyder shows how to navigate intense challenges to achieve personal growth and organizational success. He details strategies for embracing struggle and offers a host of unique tools and hands-on practices to help you implement them. By mastering the art of struggle, you{u2019}ll be better equipped to meet life{u2019}s challenges and focus on what matters most. ?Leadership and the Art of Struggle provides you with the opportunity to learn from Snyder{u2019}s remarkable wisdom. It is a living guide that you can return to time and time again as new situations arise.? {u2014}From the foreword by Bill George, former CEO, Medtronic; Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School; and author of the bestselling True North ?The leadership book of the year{u2026}one of the most intelligent, revealing, and practical books on the subject I have ever read. It confronts a vital truth: that challenge is the crucible for greatness and that these adversities introduce us to ourselves.? {u2014}Jim Kouzes, coauthor of the bestselling The Leadership Challenge ?Steven Snyder covers all the bases from channeling your energy to managing conflict, including a great segment about overcoming your leadership blind spots...This encouraging book is a must-read!? {u2014}Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and Great Leaders Grow ?Leadership and the Art of the Struggle gives you clear and compelling advice on transforming pitfalls into possibilities.? {u2014}Jodee Kozlak, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Target All Leaders Face Adversity. Exceptional Leaders Thrive in It. Leadership is often a struggle, and yet strong taboos keep us from talking openly and honestly about our difficulties for fear of looking weak and seeming to lack confidence. But Steven Snyder shows that this discussion is vital--adversity is precisely what unlocks our greatest potential. Using real-life stories drawn from his extensive research studying 151 diverse episodes of leadership struggle--as well as from his experiences working with Bill Gates in the early years of Microsoft and as a CEO and executive coach--Snyder shows how to navigate intense challenges to achieve personal growth and organizational success. He details strategies for embracing struggle and offers a host of unique tools and hands-on practices to help you implement them. By mastering the art of struggle, you'll be better equipped to meet life's challenges and focus on what matters most."Leadership and the Art of Struggle provides you with the opportunity to learn from Snyder's remarkable wisdom. It is a living guide that you can return to time and time again as new situations arise."--The foreword by Bill George, former CEO, Medtronic; Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School; and author of the bestselling True North "The leadership book of the year ... one of the most intelligent, revealing, and practical books on the subject I have ever read. It confronts a vital truth: that challenge is the crucible for greatness and that these adversities introduce us to ourselves."--Jim Kouzes, coauthor of the bestselling The Leadership Challenge "Steven Snyder covers all the bases from channeling your energy to managing conflict, including a great segment about overcoming your leadership blind spots ... This encouraging book is a must-read!"--Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and Great Leaders Grow "Leadership and the Art of the Struggle gives you clear and compelling advice on transforming pitfalls into possibilities."--Jodee Kozlak, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Target Using Real-life Stories Drawn From His Extensive Research Studying 151 Diverse Episodes Of Leadership Struggle -- As Well As From His Experiences Working With Bill Gates In The Early Years Of Microsoft And As A Ceo And Executive Coach -- Snyder Shows How To Navigate Intense Challenges To Achieve Personal Growth And Organizational Success. He Details Strategies For Embracing Struggle And Offers A Host Of Unique Tools And Hands-on Practices To Help You Implement Them. By Mastering The Art Of Struggle, You'll Be Better Equipped To Meet Life's Challenges And Focus On What Matters Most. Machine Generated Contents Note: Pt. I Becoming Grounded -- Ch. 1 Struggle Is Not A Four-letter Word -- Ch. 2 Adaptive Energy -- Ch. 3 Turn Your Energy Into Adaptive Energy -- Grounding Practice: Adopt A Growth Mind-set -- Grounding Practice: Become Resilient In The Face Of Failure -- Ch. 4 Make Sense Of A Chaotic World -- Grounding Practice: Draw Your Tension Map -- Ch. 5 Regain Balance -- Grounding Practice: Center Your Mind, Body, And Spirit -- Grounding Practice: Find The Support You Need -- Pt. Ii Exploring New Pathways -- Ch. 6 Navigate Tensions -- Exploring Practice: Reimagine The Situation To Discover A New Creative Path -- Exploring Practice: Reinvent Yourself -- Ch. 7 Illuminate Blind Spots -- Exploring Practice: Overcome Your Blind Spots -- Ch. 8 Transcend Conflict -- Exploring Practice: Heal Yourself From Conflict -- Exploring Practice: Envision The Common Ground -- Ch. 9 Discover Purpose And Meaning Through Struggle -- Exploring Practice: Write Or Revise Your Personal Vision Statement -- Exploring Practice: Recommit, Pivot, Or Leap -- Pt. Iii Deepening Adaptive Energy -- Ch. 10 Peer Into The Future -- Deepening Practice: Prepare For What Lies Ahead -- Ch. 11 Savor The Marathon -- Deepening Practice: Harness The Engine Of Discipline -- Deepening Practice: Celebrate What's Precious. Steven Snyder. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 181) And Index. Study after study confirms that career development is the single most powerful tool managers have for driving retention, engagement, productivity, and results. Nevertheless, it's frequently back-burnered. When asked why, managers say the number one reason is that they just don't have time for the meetings, the forms, the administrative hoops. But there's a better way. And it's surprisingly simple: frequent short conversations with employees about their career goals and options integrated seamlessly into the normal course of business. Kaye and Giulioni identify three broad types of conversations that have the power to motivate employees more deeply than any well-intentioned development event or process. These conversations will increase employees' awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, and interests; point out where their organization and their industry are headed; and help them pull all of that together to design their own up-to-the-minute, personalized career paths. Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go is filled with practical tips, guidelines, and templates, as well as nearly a hundred suggested conversation questions. Illuminated with stories, quotes, and the perspectives of real managers and employees, this book proves that careers are best developed one conversation at a time Bestselling author and top authority on career development shows how managers and supervisors can support employees' career development - and thereby increase employee engagement, satisfaction, job-fit, passion, and work contribution - by having frequent short conversations with employees about their career options, needs, and passions Leadership is difficult--in our quest to teach leaders the secrets of success, we've somehow lost sight of this truth. Steven Snyder teaches leaders that leadership is a marathon, not a sprint; his book offers key strategies for navigating challenges. Leadership is often a struggle, and yet strong taboos keep us from talking openly and honestly about our difficulties for fear of looking weak and seeming to lack confidence. But Steven Snyder shows that this discussion is vital