Jim Kouzes, author: "The Leadership Challenge"

Summary

In this insightful interview, Jim Kouzes, co-author of 'The Leadership Challenge', discusses the timeless qualities of effective leadership, emphasizing personal credibility as the foundation. He highlights five key practices that leaders exhibit to inspire and achieve extraordinary results, such as modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, and encouraging the heart. Kouzes refutes the notion of 'born leaders', asserting that leadership is a skill that can be developed with desire and effort. The fifth edition of his book includes new case studies, reflecting the evolving impact of social media on leadership and demonstrating the performance benefits of these practices.

Takeaways

• 😀 Personal credibility is the foundation of good leadership; people must trust the messenger to believe the message.
• 📚 The Leadership Challenge book, first written in the 1980s, has been updated with 100 new cases and studies, reflecting the enduring values of leadership.
• 🔮 Leaders are not born but made; leadership is a skill that can be developed with desire and effort.
• 👶 Leadership can begin at any age, from children leading environmental initiatives to adults discovering leadership potential later in life.
• 🌐 Social media has a significant impact on leadership, which is one of the topics covered in the updated edition of the book.
• 🛣️ The five practices of exemplary leadership include modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart.
• 🏆 Recognition and celebration are essential to encourage the heart and motivate individuals to achieve extraordinary results.
• 🌟 Leadership is not exclusive to executives; it is a life skill applicable to parents, coaches, teachers, and team captains.
• 📈 The more leaders embody the five practices, the higher the level of performance and job engagement among their teams.
• 🌱 Leadership development is a lifelong journey, with the potential to start at any age and grow with continuous learning and practice.
• 📘 For more information on the book and leadership practices, visit leadershipchallenge.com.

Q & A

What is the most important quality of a good leader according to the transcript?

The most important quality of a good leader is personal credibility. If people don't believe in the messenger, they won't believe the message.

What does the transcript suggest about the consistency of leadership values over time?

The transcript suggests that the core values and framework of leadership have remained consistent over time, despite changes in case studies and societal evolution.

What are the five practices that people do when they are getting extraordinary things done as mentioned in the transcript?

The five practices are: 1) Model the way, 2) Inspire a shared vision, 3) Challenge the process, 4) Enable others to act, and 5) Encourage the heart.

How does the transcript describe the concept of being a 'natural-born leader'?

The transcript refutes the idea of a 'natural-born leader', stating that leadership is not a gene or a gift given to a few charismatic individuals, but rather a labor of love that anyone can develop with desire and effort.

At what age can someone start becoming a leader according to the transcript?

Leadership can start at any age, as illustrated by the story of a middle-aged woman who became a leader after reading about it, as well as examples of young Girl Scouts initiating environmental projects.

What role does desire play in becoming a leader as per the transcript?

Desire is crucial in becoming a leader. If an individual has the desire to lead, they can work towards becoming a better leader, regardless of their background or current position.

How does the transcript relate leadership to everyday life skills?

The transcript views leadership as a set of life skills applicable to various roles, such as being a parent, a coach, a teacher, or a team captain, not just for those in executive positions.

What impact does practicing the five leadership practices have on performance and engagement according to the new edition of the book mentioned in the transcript?

The more an individual practices these five leadership practices, the higher the level of performance and the more engaged people are in their jobs.

How does the new edition of 'The Leadership Challenge' address the role of social media in leadership?

The new edition discusses the impact of social media on leadership and includes new data and case studies to demonstrate how these practices are affected by social media.

What is the website mentioned in the transcript for more information on 'The Leadership Challenge'?

The website mentioned for more information is leadershipchallenge.com.

What is the significance of the transcript's mention of the recent Olympics in relation to leadership?

The mention of the recent Olympics highlights the importance of celebrating achievements, akin to recognizing and encouraging the heart of team members in leadership.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Leadership Essentials with Jim Kouzes

Jim Kouzes, an executive fellow of leadership at Santa Clara University's Levy School of Business, discusses the fifth edition of 'The Leadership Challenge' he co-authored with Barry Posner. The book, first published in the 1980s, has been updated with new cases and studies. Kouzes emphasizes personal credibility as the foundation of leadership, stating that trust must be earned daily through actions. He refutes the notion of 'born leaders,' asserting that leadership is a skill that can be developed with desire and effort. The conversation highlights the five practices of exemplary leadership: modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. Kouzes shares stories of individuals who became leaders at various stages of life, from young Girl Scouts to a middle-aged woman, illustrating that leadership can emerge at any age.

Keywords

💡Leadership

Leadership is the act of guiding a group of people towards achieving a common goal. In the context of the video, it is emphasized as a set of life skills applicable in various roles, not just for those in executive positions. The video discusses how leadership involves personal credibility, inspiring a shared vision, and building teams, among other practices.

💡Personal Credibility

Personal credibility refers to the trustworthiness and reliability of an individual, which is crucial for a leader. As mentioned in the script, if people don't believe in the messenger, they won't believe the message. It is a fundamental aspect of leadership that must be earned through consistent actions.

💡Model the Way

Modeling the way is a leadership practice where leaders set a good example based on a clear set of values. It is one of the five practices highlighted in the video, demonstrating how leaders inspire others by embodying the principles they advocate.

💡Inspire a Shared Vision

Inspiring a shared vision involves envisioning the future and engaging others in that vision. It is a key leadership practice where leaders articulate a compelling picture of what the future could look like and motivate others to work towards it, as discussed in the video.

💡Enlist Others

Enlisting others is the act of involving and engaging people in a common cause, making them feel part of a meaningful mission. This practice is crucial for leaders to mobilize teams and achieve extraordinary outcomes, as highlighted in the script.

💡Challenge the Process

Challenging the process is about innovating, seeking opportunities, and taking risks. It is one of the five practices of exemplary leadership mentioned in the video, emphasizing the need for leaders to drive change and improvement.

💡Build Teams

Building teams is a leadership practice focused on enabling others to act through trust and collaboration. It is essential for creating an environment where team members can work together effectively towards common goals, as discussed in the video.

💡Encourage the Heart

Encouraging the heart involves recognizing and celebrating achievements, making people feel valued. This practice is crucial for maintaining motivation and morale, as mentioned in the context of the recent Olympics in the script.

💡Leadership Challenge

The Leadership Challenge is a book co-authored by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, which has been revised and updated with new case studies and data. The video discusses the fifth edition of the book, highlighting its relevance in promoting leadership practices.

💡Social Media

Social media is mentioned in the video as a factor impacting leadership in the modern era. The new edition of the Leadership Challenge includes discussions on how social media influences leadership dynamics and practices.

💡Life Skills

Life skills in the context of the video refer to the abilities and competencies that are essential for effective leadership in various aspects of life, not just in professional roles. The script emphasizes that leadership is a set of life skills applicable to parents, coaches, teachers, and team captains, among others.

Highlights

Personal credibility is the foundation of leadership - if people don't believe in the messenger, they won't believe the message.

Leadership values and framework have remained consistent over the past 30 years despite changes in case studies.

Five key practices for leaders to achieve extraordinary results: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart.

Leadership is not an innate trait but a skill that can be developed with desire and effort.

Leadership can emerge at any age, as illustrated by the story of a middle-aged woman who became a leader after reading about it.

Leadership is a life skill applicable in various roles such as parents, coaches, teachers, and team captains, not just for executives.

The fifth edition of 'The Leadership Challenge' includes 100 new cases and studies, reflecting the evolving landscape of leadership.

Social media's impact on leadership is discussed, highlighting its influence on modern leadership practices.

New data in the book demonstrates the positive impact of the five leadership practices on performance and employee engagement.

Leadership development is a labor of love, requiring a strong desire to improve and contribute meaningfully.

The story of an eight-year-old Girl Scout who initiated a clean environment campaign, showcasing leadership can start at a young age.

Leadership is perceived as a set of life skills rather than just a skill for those in executive positions.

The book emphasizes that leadership is not exclusive to a few charismatic individuals but can be cultivated by anyone with the desire.

The importance of recognizing and celebrating achievements, as seen in the context of the Olympics, is highlighted as a leadership practice.

The transcript discusses the timeless nature of leadership values and the ongoing relevance of the book 'The Leadership Challenge'.

For more information on 'The Leadership Challenge' or to find a copy, visit leadershipchallenge.com.

Transcripts

show me stop that okay we're back now on

bass Sunday our next guest is the deans

executive fellow of leadership at the

levy School of Business at Santa Clara

University and lectures on leadership

all around the world to corporations

governments and nonprofits he's here

today to promote the fifth edition of

the leadership challenge that he and

Barry Posner wrote back in the 1980s it

has since been revised with a hundred

new cases and studies and here to talk

about that and to make some

extraordinary things happen in

organizations and how to excel as a

leader please welcome Jim coozes thank

you how are you pleasure I'm well new

welcome aboard

well first and foremost what makes a

good leader well the first thing that we

found and we started this research 30

years ago and it's the same today as it

was 30 years ago it's personal

credibility if people don't believe in

the messenger they won't believe the

message that's the bottom line that's a

bottom line they have to hurt you hit

you as a leader is leader have to earn

respect trust every day day in day out

by our actions that you wrote the book

in the 1980s but I know case studies

have changed but really the values in

the in the framework under leadership

they just don't change over time do that

so when we ask people 30 years ago we

asked them just last week tell us about

a time when you do your personal best as

a leader and what they tell us

essentially it's the same today as it

was 30 years ago was last year and that

is people do essentially five things

when they're getting extraordinary

things done they model the way they set

a good example based on a clear set of

values they inspire a shared vision they

envision the future think long term and

then they enlist other people in that so

that they feel like they're part of some

Co meaningful cause they challenge the

process now we have to to get

extraordinary things done we have to

innovate search for opportunities go to

different Road you know absolutes and

seek innovative ways experiment take

risks learn from mistakes we have to

build teams we enable others to act

trust teamwork and lastly because it's

hard can do extraordinary things on a

regular basis you have to encourage the

heart you have to make sure people feel

recognized and that we celebrate us as

we did at the recent Olympics right to

accelerate at the end those achievements

those gold medals and silver medals now

this isn't a god-given thing as

you're not you hear that oh he's a born

leader he's a natural-born leader but

that's not the case is it well I have to

tell you I've never met a leader who was

not born cuz I started to be better is a

good start oh we're all born that's

what we do with what we have before we

die there's absolutely no evidence Frank

that leadership is a gene or that it's a

few charismatic men and women that are

born with this gift it's a labor of love

you have to really want to do a Chaffin

to desire but if you have the desire we

can help you become a better leader now

do you find people separate themselves

as adolescents it's teenagers when they

get into the workforce in college when

does someone start becoming a leader it

can start at any age let me tell you a

story got a got a an email from a woman

will call her dr and dr wrote and said

that she was studying leadership and

that she was only a mother grandmother

and Coal Miner's Daughter she was a

middle-aged woman who was never studied

didn't think of herself as a leader and

then she was studying it read our book

and other books on the topic and she

said you know maybe somebody like myself

can become a leader you can become one

at any age if you have like she did the

desire and and the belief in yourself

and we've has we have stories of

eight-year-old Girl Scouts who have

started kids for a clean environment

because they wanted to contribute to a

healthier environment and 30 20 years

later they received an award from the

for as the Woman of Distinction for what

they started when they were eight years

old do you have to be a leader to be

successful

well we perceived leadership as a set of

life skills it's not just a skill of

somebody who's at an executive level in

business or a CEO or president of a

country it's a life skill as a parent

you're a leader as a coach you're a

leader as a teacher you're a leader as

someone in school who might be on a team

a captain of a team you're a leader so

it's a set of life skills rather than

something just for people in executive

positions right right and the book now

in its fifth edition edition um new case

studies probably threw in a little bit

of high tech because things are evolving

and changing I would imagine well we

absolutely social media we talk about

the impact of social media on leadership

we have about 100 new cases this new

addition new data to demonstrate the

impact of when people do these practices

well what's it impact and what we find

is the more you do of these five

practices the more exemplary you are the

higher the level of performance the more

engaged people are in their jobs yeah

well we wish you all the best thank you

very much pleasure so appreciate it

if you'd like more information on the

leadership challenge campaign or to find

a copy of the leadership challenge

please visit leadership challenge.com

that's it for this week we'll see you

next week right here on base Sunday take

care everybody

you