Leadership Psychology: How the Best Leaders Inspire Their People

Had to have this book for my graduate program. It is very informative but can also be long winded in spots. If you are looking for ways to become a better leader, this text will assist you.

Great book. This book was required reading for a class, but I cannot tell you how many times I have referred back to it!

excellent

Leadership and psychology go very well together. A lot has been written about what allegedly makes successful leaders tick, how they are motivated and how and why theay may be inspirational.This book, despite looking very academic and severe, turns everything on its head and lets the leaders do the talking, showing how “inspirational leaders across a range of award-winning companies understand their employees' psychological needs and use that knowledge to affect behaviour and enhance performance.” This is then backed up by a host of practical guidance to empower leaders and leaders-in-waiting to implement best practice leadership. This is not, however, a series of transcribed interviews, carefully polished by public relations staff. It is much, much more than that.Leadership is not new either. There has been a host of inspirational, powerful leaders over time but equally there has been many, too many, toxic and dysfunctional people holding the “leader” title who shouldn’t be in charge of a dead fish, let alone a company with its most vital assets, its employees. The author kicks things off with a quotation from a Chinese philosopher, written in the fifth century BC – “good leadership consists of motivating people to their highest levels by offering them opportunities, not obligations” – something that is an alien concept for far too many.Headed by a review of leadership and motivational theory, the book expands to cover how emotionally intelligent leaders can make a difference with focussed, developed and strategic leadership. Written to an academic standard, this book has pleasingly managed to retain an open, accessible form (read: so there is no excuse for a bone-headed leader to one day pick this up, repent and change). The author has also interviewed a number of people who have been nominated as good, successful leaders by their staff (based on a newspaper’s yearly survey that is derived from the opinions of around 250,000 employees from over 1,000 UK businesses).Everything is carefully and considerably mixed together, case studies, feedback, viewpoints and everything bar the proverbial kitchen sink, to make an engaging, thoughtful, critical and candid read. The rest, that is to say the possible implementation of good leadership, remains up to the reader. Even the best leaders should not be complacent as there is always something that could be changed, tweaked or polished. Some people have considerably more work to do than others though in this regard. At the end of the book is a large bibliography, as you would expect, allowing and encouraging further reading. It is hoped that the index, missing in this pre-release copy – is comprehensive and detailed as a book of this kind really does need a great pathway for further dipping in and out. Despite the reader being advised to read this sequentially at least once, it is more than capable of being a regularly consulted companion, to help ensure that one continues to be on the right lines.In some ways reviewing a book of this type can be difficult. Yet despite the book’s size and perceived complexity it managed to pack a very powerful, incisive punch in a great little packet. Even if you are not occupying a high, lofty position as a leader in a company, there is even a great amount of potential takeaway that could be implemented in one’s personal life. A very good, rounded book on a fascinating subject.

Leadership PsychologyBy Alan CutlerHow the best leaders inspire their people.Cutler has written a research based book on leadership, examining critical elements of a leader, in a format that is easy to read, comprehend and implement. It answers the often asked question “Are leaders made or born?”Book examines across nine chapters: leadership theories, challenges of a modern leader, motivation of a leader, being emotionally intelligent, leadership development, psychological factors, and strategic leadership.The book is detailed and will enlighten leaders on their own leadership style, and that of others. While it summarises a lot of research, and contains a lot of information, it is written to be read, unlike some textbook style leadership books. Cutler finds a balance between text book and simplified concepts. It is based on research, not just someone ideas and concepts, which give it some authority.Each chapter contains a summary, but the meat of the learning is in the chapters.A book that all leaders will learn from, and a valuable addition to any library.