Content about Jim Kouzes

August 2, 2011
Leaders and Credibility

One hallmark of credible leaders is that they know they have to continuously develop the capacity of their constituents to put shared values into practice. When individuals, teams, departments, and organizations grow more able to perform their jobs and keep their promises, not only are their reputations enhanced, the leader’s credibility also grows. As a leader, in order to grow your own asset base, you have to invest in others.

By Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner

Much has been written about what leaders do to get extraordinary things done, but little has been written about leadership from the constituent’s point of view. These turbulent times require energized constituents who enthusiastically participate in the process and take up the call for more leadership at all levels. We thought it was essential to look into the specific behaviors constituents need from a leader if they are to become fully engaged in and committed to a leader’s call to action.

August 2, 2010
Learning Is the Master Skill

“Are leaders born or made?” It’s a question we get asked nearly every time we give a speech or conduct a workshop. Our answer? We’ve never met a leader who wasn’t born! We've also never met an accountant, artist, athlete, engineer, lawyer, physician, writer, or zoologist who wasn't born. We’re all born. That’s a given. It’s what you do with what you have before you die that makes the difference.

Meet “The Truth About Leadership” authors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner at The Leadership Challenge Forum in San Diego in August. Visit their website at: 
http://www.leadershi...
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Reprinted by permission of the publisher, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., from “The Truth About Leadership” by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Copyright (c) 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

July 29, 2010
What Is Your Leadership Legacy?

When should you start thinking about the legacy you are leaving as a leader? In some ways, professional athletes have an advantage because they "retire" at a much younger age than most of us, and the media continually reminds them of their legacy. In a recent article about Shaquille O'Neal in Sports Illustrated, the writer notes that at this point everything Shaq says and does is focused on his legacy and what people will remember about him after his basketball career is over. But some athletes are fortunate to move on into other careers such as broadcasting launched by their popularity as an athlete. People often feel they are too young or too old to think about their legacy. But the time to think about it is now. 

When should you start thinking about the legacy you are leaving as a leader? In some ways, professional athletes have an advantage because they "retire" at a much younger age than most of us, and the media continually reminds them of their legacy. In a recent article about Shaquille O'Neal in Sports Illustrated, the writer notes that at this point everything Shaq says and does is focused on his legacy and what people will remember about him after his basketball career is over.