The Leadership Challenge

By James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner,

Book cover of The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations

Book description

The most trusted source of leadership wisdom, updated to address today's realities The Leadership Challenge is the gold-standard manual for effective leadership, grounded in research and written by the premier authorities in the field. With deep insight into the complex interpersonal dynamics of the workplace, this book positions leadership both…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

3 authors picked The Leadership Challenge as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A colleague of mine introduced me to this book and argued that Kouzes and Posner wrote the gold standard of leadership practices. After reading their research-based stories, I agree.

The authors write in a way that goes beyond theory by offering a practical guide by focusing on the five practices of exemplary leadership. These practices are applicable to anyone’s career! Through inspiring examples and actionable steps, I learned how to lead with integrity, inspire others, and drive higher performance more effectively.

Read the gold standard of leadership development. It can become your call to action!

This book is considered by many to be the gold standard; it is used by many many professors of organizational behavior to form the basis of the leadership classes they teach.

I found it somewhat long and a little theoretical, but I would still recommend it to anybody who really wants to study leadership. It covers almost every topic and its insights and recommendations are “on the money.”

Once again, I love books based on solid research—all the better if based on several decades of solid research, as is the case with this book. The authors, both consultants and university professors, have collected data and lectured worldwide on how leaders communicate to make things happen in both large organizations and in smaller entrepreneurial ventures.
Once again, they have real-life stories “right from the front lines” of ordinary people who learned to use their communication skills and influence to do important things—in many cases, without title or position.

Kouzes is a Fellow of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders…

From Dianna's list on leadership communication.

Want books like The Leadership Challenge?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Leadership Challenge.

Browse books like The Leadership Challenge

Book cover of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Book cover of Emotions Revealed: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life
Book cover of Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in leadership, the gold standard, and organizational behavior?

Leadership 404 books