Synopses & Reviews
This short, easy-to-read fable reveals the five habits that underlie leadership character and that determine leaders success - and teaches leaders how to develop these habits.
Like Mark Millers previous books, this one follows the life, learning, and influence of Debbie Bruster. Here she finds herself mentoring Blake Brown, the son of her former mentor. Rather than answer Blakes questions about leadership directly, Debbie introduces him to other leaders, each of whom shares a unique perspective on what really makes a leader successful. As Blake puts the pieces together, he discovers his problem is not one of skills but of character, that leadership is more about the heart of the leader than the head or hands. In fact, Miller summarized these traits with the acronym HEART: Hunger for Wisdom, Expect the Best, Accept Responsibility, Respond with Courage, and Think Others First. With the help of his new friends and mentors, Blake is able to build a plan to transform his heart.
The good news for all of us: leadership is not just the purview of the few - it is within reach for millions of aspiring leaders around the world. This book is the road map they need to get their lives and careers on track.
Review
“For those who have the courage and the character to embrace the radical nature of heart-based leadership, the rewards are great. But those rewards are not always tangible nor are they guaranteed. They cannot be calculated like a bonus or a 401(k) program. That may be why relatively few leaders choose to lead this way. But perhaps this book will begin to change that. I certainly hope so.”
—from the foreword by Patrick Lencioni, President, The Table Group, and author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Advantage
“The most important leadership tool you have is not your education, your experience, or your know-how. Its your heart. In this book, Mark provides a clear prescription for using yours to become the kind of leader people want to follow.”
—Michael Hyatt, New York Times bestselling author and former CEO, Thomas Nelson Inc.
“Mark once again demonstrates the power of a simple story well told. The Heart of Leadership will serve leaders around the world for decades to come.”
—Dr. Henry Cloud, leadership consultant, psychologist, and bestselling author of Boundaries and Necessary Endings
“The Heart of Leadership is a delightfully surprising read. Mark Millers wisdom shines in his ability to convey profound truths simply and clearly. This book propels leadership beyond strategies and techniques to its most authentic form—who you are.”
—Dan Rockwell, author and owner of the Leadership Freak blog, consultant, and pastor
“Mark Miller has crafted a masterwork. Too many books on leadership are about selfishly getting ahead. This book addresses the leaders heart. By addressing the heart, you do get ahead, but its a more satisfying journey.”
—Nancy Duarte, author of Resonate and CEO, Duarte Designs
“This book will help you reach your leadership potential, espousing good principles that most learn only through the school of hard knocks—and many never learn at all.”
—Ron Wallace, former President, UPS International
“Mark Miller has done it again! Another outstanding book—this time on the most important aspect of leadership: who you are as a leader. If you focus only on skills, you are ignoring 90 percent of what makes a great leader. Through an engaging parable, Mark reveals the five qualities of leadership character. And the good news is, they can be learned. Read this book, discover what they are, and take them to heart!”
—Jesse Lyn Stoner, coauthor of the international bestseller Full Steam Ahead!
“The Heart of Leadership addresses the primary stumbling block for leaders—themselves! If you want to improve how you lead others, you must first improve how you lead yourself. This great little book shows you how.”
—Daniel S. Harkavy, CEO and Executive Coach, Building Champions, Inc.
“The Heart of Leadership extends and deepens the bestselling leadership models pioneered by Mark Miller. This book is clear, compelling, and of real practical value. Keep it on hand—a small investment of time will yield a lifetime of dividends, in your life as well as in your career.”
—Jeff Rosensweig, Associate Professor of International Business and Finance and Director, Global Perspectives Program, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
“Theres a difference between potential leaders with raw talent and great leaders with real influence. Marks book reveals the foundational difference—its all about leadership character.”
—Tony Morgan, author and Chief Strategic Officer and founder of TonyMorganLive.com.
“Mark Millers The Heart of Leadership immediately creates a place for personal discovery. As I read each page, I was no longer thinking of Blake, the main character, but myself. Blakes journey of discovery became my own. This is about the ‘life of leadership and how it reaches within and without, having profound and long-lasting impact. Its about being unselfishly driven and highly motivated. It is about how others within the workplace and within our lives benefit from our personal resolve to lead from the perspective that others matter.”
—Clifton L. Taulbert, author of Eight Habits of the Heart and President, The Freemount Corporation/Building Community Institute
“There are so many buzzwords in business that claim to be the answer to all leadership woes. The truth is that leadership is all about the people, and to have success with people, read The Heart of Leadership, and watch your leadership soar to a whole new level.”
—Todd Nielsen, author and COO, JMARK Business Solutions
Synopsis
Are you the type of leader people want to follow? You can be—but first, youve got to understand what sets great leaders apart from all the rest.
Certainly, leaders need people skills, execution skills, a deep knowledge of industry trends, the ability to articulate a vision, and more—they must be competent—but thats just the tip of the iceberg. Whats below the waterline? Whats deep inside the best leaders that makes them different?
Mark Miller contends it is their leadership character. In his latest enlightening and entertaining business fable, he describes the five unique character traits exhibited by exceptional leaders and how to cultivate them.
The Heart of Leadership begins with young and ambitious Blake Brown being passed over for a desperately wanted promotion, despite an outstanding individual performance. Confused and frustrated, he turns to his former mentor, Debbie Brewster. Rather than attempting to solve Blakes problem for him, she sends him on a quest to meet with five of his late fathers colleagues, each of whom holds a piece of the puzzle hes trying to solve.
As Blake puts the pieces together, he discovers that in the final analysis, a lack of skills isnt what holds most leaders back; skills are too easy to learn. Without demonstrated leadership character, however, a skill set will never be enough. Most often, when leaders fail to reach their full potential, it is an issue of the heart. This is Blakes ultimate revelation.
This book shows us that leadership neednt be the purview of the few—it is within reach for millions around the world. The Heart of Leadership is a road map for every person who desires to make a difference in the lives of others and become a leader people want to follow.
About the Author
Mark Miller began writing about a decade ago when he teamed up with Ken Blanchard on The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do. Since then, his books have sold almost 600,000 copies worldwide. Miller encourages leaders through his posts on GreatLeadersServe.org. It's rated as one of the top leadership blogs in the world and has garnered almost 2 million page views since its inception less than two years ago. Miller also sells chicken. He started his Chick-fil-A career working as an hourly team member back in 1977. He joined the corporate staff in 1978, working in the warehouse and mailroom. Today he serves as the vice president for organizational effectiveness.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Leadership Character
Leaders are Different
When the Student is Ready
Its Not About You
Leaders Create the Future
Vision Fuels Courage
The Price of Leadership
No Substitute for Wisdom
Look in the Mirror
I Can Change This
A Matter of the Heart
The Next Step
Epilogue
Authors Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Assessment