LEADERSHIP SUSTAINABILITY - Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood


 Based on an in-person presentation to help businesses strengthen the people in leadership roles, and to help people who want to move up (and stay up) the corporate ladder by being better leaders, authors Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood present their "Seven Disciplines to Achieve the Changes Great Leaders Know They Must Make". First they identify the seven key factors to better leaders (Simplicity;  Time; Accountability; Resources; Tracking; Melioration; Emotion), then they address each of them. It is essentially a workbook for their program, slightly modified to provide the narrative as well.

The problem with this format is that we miss out on the charismatic presenters - and let's face it, anyone leading this kind of program is going to be very extroverted and very charismatic. It's the difference between reading and doing your homework and listening to your teacher explain it and walk you through your homework.

A dozen years ago or so - about the time this book was published - I had moved into a new leadership role and I wanted to make sure I could excel in this new position, hence this book.  But I first of all didn't have (or make) time to spend looking through this book - I was too busy actually working in the position to try to find ways to be a better leader.  The distinction here is important - this is intended to improve me, my basic leadership skills and ability, not improve my ability in my specific role.

The goal here is rather generic and definitely geared toward the corporate middleman who's being moved up the corporate ladder. It's target is the individual whose entire life is work-centric. Suggestions include:

...train yourself to experiment more, try these simple steps: First, read diversely. ... Second, have broad interests. ... Third, run into and not away from failures.

Frankly it amazes me that anyone needs to be directed to do any one of these and I worry about any company that sends it's management team to get these lessons.

Perhaps I have 'natural' leadership skills or my career in a smaller leadership role (which I have also taught at both high school and collegiate levels) has already prepared me, but too much of this book just seemed natural instinct to me.  

Leaders who sustain change through resilience recognize that change is not a linear process from point A to point B. As in crossing an uncharted river, resilience requires taking risks and experimenting, reflecting on what does and does not work, improvising, and ultimately being resilient enough to continue.

Again ... someone needs to learn this? I guess I should consider myself fortunate to have worked for good leaders who have set good examples, and that I don't work in an industry that has people in leadership positions who do need this book.

Useful to some, perhaps, but I didn't find anything in here that wasn't intuitive or revolutionary.

Looking for a good book? Leadership Sustainability by Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood takes an in-person leadership training course and puts it on paper to reach a larger audience, but the book doesn't capture the energy we might find in an in-person course.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

* * * * * *

Leadership Sustainability: Seven Disciplines to Achieve the Changes Great Leaders Know They Must Make Changes Great Leaders Know They Must Make

authors: Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood

publisher: McGraw Hill

ISBN: 9780071808521

hardcover, 288 pages

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