Product Description

most leadership books try to answer the question “what is good leadership?” this book is different. it starts with the question: “how can people learn to lead?”

the leadership skills handbook identifies the cores skills leaders need to develop. each skill is placed in context to help readers think about how they should be used. it also takes a new approach: there is space for recording notes and real life examples of skills in action, so that readers can develop their own unique formula for success. with this in mind, the handbook can become a personal leadership coach, each chapter to be consulted when the need arises. a skills-based book, it reveals how to be a practical leader, but it also looks at what to do when things go wrong; how to deal with conflict, adversity and difficult people.

ideal leadership is always inferior to practical leadership, and the leadership skills handbook helps anyone to put the theory into practice. for use as an active tool, it can become a personal guide and coach on the road to leadership. it is the leadership book for leaders who live in the real world.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56522 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 214 pages

Professional Manager
"In a splendid, humorous yet non-patronising way Owen focuses on how to learn to lead."

Review

“while most leadership books try to answer the question ‘what is good leadership?’, this book is different. it starts with the question ‘how can you learn to lead?’ and is about more then just technical skills.”

call centre focus

“in a splendid, humorous yet non-patronising way owen focuses on how to learn to lead rather then learning about the processes and theories of leadership.”

professional manager

From the Back Cover

“a practical handbook which i strongly recommend to anyone who aspires to become a more effective leader.”

john adair

the leadership skills handbook

50 key skills from 1,000 leaders

jo owen

rear cover

most leadership books try to answer the question,“what is good leadership?” this book is different. it starts with the question: “how can you learn to lead?”

the leadership skills handbook is based on research from over a thousand leaders in the public, private and voluntary sectors. it identifies the practical skills leaders must have in order to be successful, and offers guidance on key topics such as:

• understanding yourself and others;

• managing your career;

• delegating and motivating;

• selling;

• coaching;

• conflict management;

• crisis management;

• problem solving;

• decision making;

• projects;

• presenting;

• managing change;

• creating a vision.

there is space for recording notes and real-life examples of skills in action, so that the handbook can become your personal leadership coach, each chapter to be consulted when the need arises.

the leadership skills handbook is about more than just technical skills, it is also about developing the people skills, behaviours and values you will need. it is about becoming a leader that people will want to follow.

jo owen has worked for over 70 of the best, and one or two of the worst, organizations in the world. his experience crosses industries, continents and business environments – and formed the basis for his best-selling book management stripped bare (also published by kogan page). a founder of teach first, which is one of the top graduate recruiters in the uk, he is a frequent speaker on leadership.

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Customer Reviews

Highly recommended
This is a really practical guide for anyone who has a team to lead, no matter how big or small. I particularly enjoyed the sections on managing expectations, dealing with bullies and presenting, three things I have found really challenging in my new role. There is no beating around the bush here,just solid realistic advice for normal people in normal situations rather than the idealistic stuff you find in most books on leadership. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to find out about good leadership without reading loads of dry theory.

Leasdership Skills in a Nutshell..
There's little in this book that Aristotle hasn't already proclaimed on
leadership. But new insights and thoughts on what makes a great leader
is not the purpose of this book. Instead it is here as a handbook a
reference book and a general reminder of the skills necessary to lead
well.

Divided into 5 parts and what might be considered 52 chapters each of
little more than 2 pages, this book is packed full of concise reading on
core leadership skills. It begins on Understnading Yourself and finishes
on Learning to Lead & covers just about every imaginable leadership
skill in between.

So what did I learn/remember as a result of reading this book?

- To listen more & talk less
- The more you solve problems for employees the more they will come to
you with their problems
- Leaders know NO is a No No- there's a great art to saying no without
being negative. "Like a good air traffic controller a good facilitator
will make sure that all the ideas that are raised land safely on the
flip chart. When lots of ideas are flying the faciltator will need to put
some in a holding pattern until cleared for landing"
- Networking - let people talk about their favourite subject -
themselves
- Project Management - do not start at the beginning but at the end with
a very clear view of what needs to be achieved.
- In the leadership goldfish bowl you are under constant surveilance so
makke the most of it.

This book is unlikely to seriously challenge or stretch the reader but it
should help you fine tune what you already do in a leadership role. As
such, its a worthy read.