Ready to lead? : a story for new leaders and their mentors

Mark Gibson's annual performance evaluation took a dramatic shift when his boss took him by surprise with this straightforward challenge. Written with the flair of a master storyteller, Alan Price's Ready to Lead? tells the tale of Mark Gibson, a young executive who is searching for inspiration and leadership skills as he experiences the inevitable growing pains in his career. Ready to Lead? spins a compelling insider's tale that shows what it takes to develop from the role of a successful manager to become an authentic leader. If you are at a crossroads in your own career or are mentoring someone who is, Ready to Lead? offers a fresh source of inspiration. Ready to Lead? will be your guidebook for stepping out of the role of manager and taking the next step to becoming a dynamic leader. Ready to Lead?......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 10 1 The Performance Evaluation......Page 14 2 Are You Ready to Lead?......Page 22 3 What Is Leadership?......Page 30 4 Inspiration......Page 38 5 The Opportunity......Page 44 6 All Seems Fine—on the Surface......Page 52 7 Wisdom......Page 58 8 The Connection Between Leadership and Management......Page 68 9 Through the Customer’s Eyes......Page 78 10 The Difference Between Leadership and Management......Page 90 11 Focus on the Mission......Page 98 12 A Problem at the Top......Page 102 13 Sparks Fly......Page 110 14 A Time for Reflection......Page 112 15 Energizing the Company for Excellence......Page 118 16 Resistance to Change......Page 124 17 Mentoring......Page 132 18 The Leadership Development Paradox......Page 142 19 Taking Leadership Up a Notch......Page 148 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 154 THE AUTHOR......Page 160