The Character Based Leader - The Book

"Character counts in leadership and there are key elements that shape character." If this resonates with you, then you have got to read The Character Based Leader.

The Character Based Leader is collaborative effort by 21 authors of the Lead Change Group to reflect their beliefs on character and leadership. Woven throughout each of the individual chapters is a message of choice, trust and community from leaders I know and respect like Jennifer Miller and Megan M. Biro.

This is about real leadership, not leadership drawn from check sheets or to-do lists. In 5 parts: Why Character-Based Leadership, Lead From Where You Are, Character-Based Leadership Traits, Leadership Communities, and Moving Forward, this book is nothing short of a call to action.

The Character Based Leader aligns so well with my own belief that you can only lead from who you are and with 21 perspectives, one will call to you. This is a book you could read from cover to cover or pick and choose the chapters or authors that call to you. You won't be disappointed.

"Instigate a revolution!"

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free download from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I expressed are my own.

Career Development: 100 Questions to Grow By

You may want to pull my SHRM card when I tell you this but you have to know, I don't give enough regular feedback to my staff.

In fact, days can go by without me having a conversation (feedback or otherwise) with any given member of the department. Look closely and you may find my subscribing to the leadership approach, "No yelling, screaming, blood or broken bones so all must be OK."

When I do meet with staff, I am very intentional about moving beyond the performance review and am always on the lookout for ideas on how to shift the conversation and add value. And, it almost always involves asking questions.

A resource I reviewed recently is Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Employees Want, a new leadership book written by Beverly Kaye and Julie Winkle Giulioni. The authors share their approach to career development as career development through conversation. There are three conversations, hindsight, foresight and insight, and each has a distinct purpose and set of questions.

Of the nearly 100 questions in the book, three that caught my attention are from the hindsight conversation:

• For each position, role or job held, what parts brought you joy, energy and a sense of persistence and which led to boredom, disengagement and a sense of just going through the motions?
• What are you known for?
• What skills do you appreciate in others that you don't always see in yourself?

Full of useful and simple ideas, this book is a solid resource for supervisors and mentors looking for a guide to get a career conversation going or a framework for a complete series of guiding conversations.

Toss the rigid career ladder and share the benefits of hindsight, foresight and insight with your staff as you engage them in conversations that make them think.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.