Leadership Passages: The Personal and Professional Transitions that Make or Break a Leader

Citation

(2004), "Leadership Passages: The Personal and Professional Transitions that Make or Break a Leader", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 53 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2004.07953hae.002

Leadership Passages: The Personal and Professional Transitions that Make or Break a Leader

Leadership Passages: The Personal and Professional Transitions that Make or Break a Leader

David L. Dotlich, James L. Noel and Norman WalkerWiley$24.95ISBN: 0-7879-7427-7

All leaders will face a number of critical crossroads in their careers. How they handle them determines whether such moments are learning and growth opportunities or traps that ensnare them and prevent further development. The authors here suggest that such passages are predictable, and with proper preparation, leaders can not only survive them to become stronger, but also can use these experiences to enhance their leadership, compassion and effectiveness.

This book sets out 13 specific “leadership passages” based on research, interviews, and coaching of senior executives in such well-known companies as Johnson & Johnson, Novarits, Intel, GE and Bank of America. For each passage, the authors describe what to expect, how the passage constitutes a choice point, and what effective leaders do to navigate and grow from the challenge.

The passages include:

1. 1.

   moving into a leadership role for the first time;

2. 2.

   dealing with significant failure for which you are responsible;

3. 3.

   derailing/losing your job;

4. 4.

   being acquired/merging;

5. 5.

   losing faith in the system;

6. 6.

   understanding the importance of children, family and friends; and

7. 7.

   personal upheavals such as divorce, illness, and death.

The authors provide a wealth of practical tools and techniques to improve leadership, along with real-life examples from recognizable leaders and suggestions as to how companies can use the concept of leadership passages to grow talent.