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The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership Hardcover – July 11, 2023
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Get ready to make the biggest jump of your career.
The chasm separating managers from leaders is widening as the skills required to be an effective leader grow in number and complexity. But you're ambitious. You want to cross that chasm. And your organization needs you to cross it in order to join its bench of stars who will lead with empathy and humanity and ground the organization's strategies in a meaningful, mission-driven, and purposeful way.
The Leap to Leader is your trusted playbook for making the biggest jump of your career. You'll learn from more than a hundred successful leaders who share their powerful insights and compelling stories of how to make the leap, along with practical strategies and tactics for building a loyal following, moving up quickly to broaden your impact, and making the subtle but crucial mindset shifts that are required to lead others effectively.
As senior managing director at the ExCo Group, Adam Bryant has worked directly with hundreds of fast-rising executives, sharing the leadership development frameworks, tools, and approaches that are at the heart of this book. He draws on the collective wisdom of the one hundred mentors at his firm—all former CEOs or global business leaders—who know what it takes to make the leap to leader. As the creator of the iconic Corner Office column in the New York Times, Bryant has spoken with more than a thousand leaders over the years about the challenges and nuances of leadership.
The leap to leader doesn't have to be a leap of faith. If you're ready to make the jump, start here.
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarvard Business Review Press
- Publication dateJuly 11, 2023
- Dimensions6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
- ISBN-101647824893
- ISBN-13978-1647824891
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From the Publisher
The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"The Leap to Leader is not just a book; it's a roadmap for professionals seeking inspiration and practical advice to continue to broaden their leadership skills, not only for promotion but also implementing best practices." — PM World Journal
Named a Top Voice in Leadership by LinkedIn
Advance Praise for The Leap to Leader:
"Adam Bryant expertly identifies why leading is completely different from managing. Drawing on intimate conversations with transformational, inspiring leaders, Bryant deftly lays out what every manager should know—and do—to make the leap. An indispensable guide for rising managers and for leaders who aspire to do even more." — Laszlo Bock, cofounder, Humu and Gretel; former Chief Human Resources Officer, Google; New York Times bestselling author, Work Rules!
"Adam Bryant delivers again! In The Leap to Leader, he offers a three-part guide, full of practical tips, insights, and stories for those wishing to graduate from management to leadership. He not only poses the key question—Are you drawn to the fire?—but also describes the mindset shift that all great leaders must master." — Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the Air Force; author, Aim High
"Leadership is a privilege because it provides an opportunity to make a huge impact by influencing others. And it's a challenge because leaders must learn how to influence others by inspiring them rather than telling them. Bryant captures this theme brilliantly, and if you want to become an impactful leader, this book is for you." — Niren Chaudhary, CEO, Panera Brands
"With his journalistic approach to demystifying leadership, Adam Bryant has created an intensely practical guide filled with compelling insights, memorable stories, and actionable tips from CEOs. It will help anybody who aspires to lead." — Marla Beck, cofounder and former CEO, Bluemercury
"The Leap to Leader has all the signature elements of Adam Bryant's work: an eye for the candid anecdote, an ear for different voices in a world of business where most of us sound the same, and an instinct for what can actually help people become better leaders in every phase of their lives. It has little details and big ideas, and it is the distillation of a lifetime of talking and listening to all sorts of leaders about their deepest hopes and fears." — Glenn Kelman, President and CEO, Redfin
About the Author
Adam Bryant is senior managing director and partner at the ExCo Group, where he works with hundreds of ambitious leaders rising through the ranks. As the creator and former author of the iconic Corner Office column in the New York Times, Bryant has mastered the art of distilling real-world lessons from his hundreds of interviews and turning them into practical tools, presentations, and exercises to help companies strengthen their leadership benches. He also works with executive leadership teams to help drive their transformation strategies, based on a best-practices framework he developed for his widely praised book, The CEO Test: Master the Challenges That Make or Break All Leaders.
Connect with the Adam Bryant at @AdamBBryant on Twitter.
Product details
- Publisher : Harvard Business Review Press (July 11, 2023)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1647824893
- ISBN-13 : 978-1647824891
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #90,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #168 in Systems & Planning
- #972 in Business Management (Books)
- #1,261 in Leadership & Motivation
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Adam Bryant is senior managing director and a partner at the ExCo Group, a leadership development and executive mentoring firm. He has interviewed more than 1,000 CEOs and other senior leaders for his LinkedIn series and for the New York Times “Corner Office” column he created. He has written three previous leadership books, including, “The CEO Test: Master the Challenges that Make or Break All Leaders,” published by Harvard Business Review Press in 2021. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and leadership offsites, and is the senior adviser to the Reuben Mark Initiative for Organizational Character and Leadership at Columbia University.
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
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What sets this book apart is its focus on actionable strategies. Bryant doesn't just talk about leadership qualities; he provides concrete steps and examples that readers can apply in their own professional journeys. The Leader Profiles are particularly illuminating, offering a firsthand look at the successes and pitfalls of those who have navigated this leap before.
One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on self-awareness. Bryant encourages readers to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, fostering a mindset that is crucial for effective leadership. The anecdotes and interviews with seasoned leaders add a layer of authenticity, making the advice feel grounded and attainable.
Moreover, "The Leap to Leader" tackles contemporary challenges facing leaders today, from navigating a rapidly changing business landscape to fostering a culture of innovation. Bryant doesn't shy away from the tough questions, providing a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to lead with impact.
In a market flooded with leadership literature, this book stands out for its relevance, depth, and practicality. It's not just a read; it's a toolkit for success. If you're an ambitious manager with your sights set on leadership, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of "The Leap to Leader." Your future self will thank you.
![Customer image](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2023
What sets this book apart is its focus on actionable strategies. Bryant doesn't just talk about leadership qualities; he provides concrete steps and examples that readers can apply in their own professional journeys. The Leader Profiles are particularly illuminating, offering a firsthand look at the successes and pitfalls of those who have navigated this leap before.
One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on self-awareness. Bryant encourages readers to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, fostering a mindset that is crucial for effective leadership. The anecdotes and interviews with seasoned leaders add a layer of authenticity, making the advice feel grounded and attainable.
Moreover, "The Leap to Leader" tackles contemporary challenges facing leaders today, from navigating a rapidly changing business landscape to fostering a culture of innovation. Bryant doesn't shy away from the tough questions, providing a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to lead with impact.
In a market flooded with leadership literature, this book stands out for its relevance, depth, and practicality. It's not just a read; it's a toolkit for success. If you're an ambitious manager with your sights set on leadership, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of "The Leap to Leader." Your future self will thank you.
![Customer image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61KBA5mL5ZL._SY88.jpg)
All organizations need effective leadership at all levels and in all areas in the given enterprise. Most of those who provide it do not have a title but are respected and trusted because of the example they set, the skills and knowledge they possess, and the value they create. Not all of them aspire to have a formal title. Not all of those who have that ambition have -- or can develop -- whatever is needed to succeed in a leadership position. I think of leaders as "gardeners" who "grow" those entrusted to their care. Success in gardening requires an environment for growth as well as what will be grown as well as the tools, techniques, and temperament provided by those to whom the garden is entrusted to their care.
According to Bryant, leadership "means thinking about what you can do for people, rather than what they can do for you. It's about building other leaders, not just followers." This is precisely what Robert Greenleaf has in mind when suggesting in one of his essays, first published in 1970: "The servant-leader is servant first...It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions...The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.”
As Bryant explains in the first chapter, there are countless ways that people experience the leap to leader, "a jump that has little to do with your title and everything to do with your mindset. It is a realization that you are fully accountable, that you must grapple with the hardest decisions, and that you need to let go of doing the work that earned you promotion after promotion earlier in your career."
Some of the most valuable material is provided within Bryant's seven "Leader Profiles":
o Marcus Kennedy (Intel) on making the most difficult decisions: "The hardest part is making tough choices that have real impact on Employees."
o Molly McKenna (McDonald's) on memorable leaders: "A leader is someone who people remember and talk about ten years from now."
o Marc Lacey (The New York Times) on treating everyone with respect every day: "You build up goodwill by treating everybody decently day in and day out."
o Kristina Lund (AES Indiana and AES Ohio) on appreciating the hard work of team members: "Your team members want to be recognized for their hard work."
o Gregory Bryant (Analog Devices) on being someone everyone wants to work with: "People need to want to work with you, and to work with each other."
o Balaji Krishnamurthy (Chevron) on creating an environment in which teams can answer questions and solve problems: "It's important that you create an environment where people can find the right answers."
o Mary Elizabeth Porray (EY) on seeking new challenges when feeling comfortable: "As soon as you feel comfortable. you need to move to a new role."
Here's my take on the relative functions of leaders and managers. In general, managers implement decisions made by leaders; leaders are remembered because of their sometimes charismatic impact whereas managers are remembered for their efficiency; leaders recognize and commend the contributions of those for whom they are responsible; effective leaders attract followers whereas effective managers are appreciated as valuable colleagues; leaders create a wholesome workplace environment whereas managers enrich it with competence; leaders are restless dreamers whereas managers help make dreams come true. There are times when a manager seems to help keep the promises that a leader make
Bryant announces in the first chapter that the goal of his book "is to provide an intensely practical guide to making that transition [from being led to leading others] by sharing insights, stories, and approaches from hundreds of leaders to build the skills you will need to make the leap to leader -- starting with proving yourself as a manager, then advancing to more senior roles to increase your impact, and finally making the fundamental mindset shifts that are necessary to succeed by understanding how you need to [begin itaics] be [end italics] a leader."
That is a goal that Adam Bryant achieves with rigor and eloquence. In doing so, he sets a goal for you to achieve. The baton is now in your hands. Do you REALLY want to lead? As Henry Ford once observed, "Whether you think you can or think you can't succeed, you're probably right."
Here are two concluding suggestions: Highlight key passages, and, keep a lined notebook near at hand while reading The Leap to Leader in which you record your comments, questions, action steps (preferably with deadlines) and page references as well as your responses to questions posed throughout the narrative and to lessons you have learned. These two simple tactics will facilitate, indeed expedite frequent reviews of key material later.
* * *
Adam Bryant is senior managing director and a partner at the ExCo Group, a leadership development and executive mentoring firm. He has interviewed more than 1,000 CEOs and other senior leaders for his LinkedIn series and for the New York Times “Corner Office” column he created. He has written three previous leadership books, including, The CEO Test: Master the Challenges that Make or Break All Leaders, published by Harvard Business Review Press in 2021. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and leadership offsites, and is the senior adviser to the Reuben Mark Initiative for Organizational Character and Leadership at Columbia University.
Top reviews from other countries
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The advice in this book is relatable and 100% actionable. Throughout the book, I found things I could instantly apply.
I’m a product manager and this book was far more useful than any product management book I’ve read.
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