ERIKA ANDERSEN is founding partner of the consulting firm Proteus International and the author of Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers and Being Strategic: Plan for Success, Out-Think Your Competitors, Stay Ahead of Change, which she adapted into a public television show, Being Strategic with Erika Andersen. She also blogs at blogs.[...] and at [...].

1 The Longing for Good Leaders 1

Our Leader Longing Is Wired In

Cracking the Code

2 Firesides and Folktales 7

Stories Hold the Map

The Six Attributes

Reflecting on Your Leadership

Hearing the Story

3 Farsighted 21

See Possible Futures

Articulate the Vision

Model the Vision

See Past Obstacles

Invite Participation

4 Passionate 49

Commit Honestly

Make a Clear Case Without Dogma

Invite Real Dialogue

Support Your Passion

Remain Committed

5 Courageous 63

Make Tough Choices

Risk Yourself for the Enterprise

Do Personally Difficult Things

Take Responsibility

Admit Mistakes

6 Wise 83

Be Curious-Listen!

Assess Objectively

Learn from Your Experience

See and Share Patterns

Act Based on Your Sense of Right

7 Generous 105

Assume Positive Intent

Share Power

Share What You Know

Freely Give Credit, Praise, and Reward

Provide Necessary Resources for Success

8 Trustworthy 137

Tell the Truth

Do What You Say You Will

Keep Confidences

Speak and Act for the Greater Good

Get Results

9 Friends for the Journey 157

Leading as a Group Endeavor

Wizards, Well-Wishers, and Wild Cards

Finding Your Supporters

10 Your Own Tale 167

Reassess Yourself

Make a Plan

Rely on Your Wizards, Well-Wishers, and Wild Cards

Epilogue 173

Listening and Self-Talk for Leaders: Bonus Section 175

Acknowledgments 187

The Author 189

Index 191