Publisher's Synopsis
Leadership In The Trenches is an honest look at the reality of what it takes to be an effective leader in today's business world-what it takes to succeed. Combining 40 years of business experience with essential research into organizational behavior and social psychology, Leadership in the Trenches explains the traits and temperament that a leader needs to be successful. It teaches these success principles through anecdotes, examples and clear explanations that people can understand and relate to, encouraging the reader and delivering a powerful challenge to excel. The book is designed to help entrepreneurs, managers and everyone else willing to take ownership of their lives to see the path to success and gain the tools to stay on course. So many businesses and managers fail to live up to their potential, or fail entirely. There has never been a stronger need for advice and guidance from those who did not fail, and the kind of solutions and direction found in Leadership In The Trenches. "Leadership" begins by painting a picture of the harsh reality of today's business environment, to remind readers of the price of failure. It then provides detailed explanations of the qualities, knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to not only succeed, but lead others to success, regardless of one's level in an organization. The book first prepares the reader by providing a clear definition of "Leadership"; what it means, and what it doesn't mean. From there it turns to the most important principles of organizational behavior and human psychology, explaining why people do (and don't do), covering topics of Emotional Intelligence, Constructive Resistance and Cognitive Dissonance; although technical sounding, the book greatly simplifies these topics. After building a foundational understanding of these principles through easy-to-understand examples and anecdotes from the author's personal experiences, the book expounds important management techniques. These chapters include: Setting Expectations (both for self and for others); How important Financial Reporting is in business; How to turn Negative Situations into Opportunities; and How to create Backup Plans and Exit Strategies--which most entrepreneurs and management never think about until it's too late. The final focus of the book is on appropriate managerial skills and attitudes. These topics cover: Trust and Interpersonal Dependency; Separation of Business and Personal Life; and Focusing on Abilities and Communication. Another recurring theme is that Awareness of the Self and the Thought Processes Of Others are key skills to being an effective leader. The final questions to the reader are: What is it that truly motivates people to become the best they can be? and What is your roadblock to success? The answer is "You."
