Leading with Conviction Mastering the Nine Critical Pillars of Integrated Leadership

What can truly set an organization apart? There is only one asset that offers guaranteed differentiation: leadership. Leadership is a deliberate act that requires effort but yields enormous payback. According to the renowned professor Shalom Saar and co-author Michael J. Hargrove, both internationally recognized leadership development consultants, executive coaches and speakers, leadership can be learned and improved through the nine critical competencies explored in this book. Filled with sage advice and engaging examples, as well as multiple mini-assessments, this book presents a programmatic approach to engage and grow leaders at every level and in any type of organization.

• Outlines the nine core competencies that define exceptional leadership
• Uses a proven approach to enhance leadership skills that can be applied to any organizational setting
• Offers a wide array of practical tools for aspiring and experienced leaders
• Written by Shalom Saar and Michael Hargrove, the cofounders of the Center for Leadership Development, (Saar is also a leading professor at MIT and previously Harvard, as well as other top schools globally)

Leading with Conviction offers a wealth of advice to help leaders establish a compelling vision, motivate their workforce, manage change and conflict, and create benchmarks that lead to sustainable success.

A Note from Warren Bennis xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xvii

1 The Pillar of Self 1

2 The Pillar of Balance 23

3 The Pillar of Agility 43

4 The Pillar of Change 67

5 The Pillar of Conf lict 89

6 The Pillar of Creativity 113

7 The Pillar of Coaching 135

8 The Pillar of Collaboration 161

9 The Pillar of Results 187

10 The Journey Continues 211

Notes 223

About the Authors 233

Index 235

SHALOM SAADA SAAR is cofounder of the Center for Leadership Development. He is a professor of management practice at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing and teaches leadership at MIT. His work focuses on enhancing leadership effectiveness through self-awareness and organizational change. Shalom has consulted with numerous organizations and coached senior executives throughout the world. He has taught at Harvard University, SMU, and China Europe International Business School in Shanghai, and he has delivered speeches on the power of leadership in mobilizing people and organizations. Shalom received his bachelor's degree in economics and psychology from Swarthmore College and master's and doctoral degrees in organizational behavior from Harvard University.

MICHAEL J. HARGROVE is cofounder of the Center for Leadership Development. He has led large-scale change efforts for global companies. His work has focused on improving performance by leveraging strategic thinking and collaborative leadership. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in planning and organizational behavior from Harvard University.