The Leadership Challenge

Kouzes and Posner have quite literally written the book on leadership. Not only that, but they're also generous and thorough enough to keep updating it, as our tumultuous times demand. This seventh edition of The Leadership Challenge is a masterpiece-informative, practical, and engaging. If you take these ideas to heart and apply the book's Five Practices assiduously, you will be well on your way to becoming a better leader. You will be well on your way to enriching the lives of others and making the organizations you care about better.

-Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School; Author of The Fearless Organization

Did we really need a seventh edition of The Leadership Challenge? The answer is a resounding yes. This seminal book-series is more important than ever, far more important. The world is a mess. And the best way out, as I see it, is to better our organizations and the lives of their employees. The Five Practices that are the keystone of the book can without doubt trigger an internal revolution of organizational excellence-which can, collectively, give one hope, on a global scale, for a brighter future. Bravo, Jim and Barry.

-Tom Peters, bestselling business author and speaker

For years, the US Coast Guard Academy has relied upon the foundational principles set forth in The Leadership Challenge to develop the next generation of leaders of character who will serve the people of the United States. This exciting seventh edition draws upon conclusive research and is bursting with compelling, real-life examples to learn from and lead by; it's an indispensable resource for leaders at all levels who desire to make extraordinary things happen . in the workplace, at home, and in society. Jim Kouzes's and Barry Posner's 40-year collaboration in studying leaders, researching leadership, and leading brings us a masterful work designed to help people become the best leaders they can be. If you want to learn how to earn trust and respect as a leader others yearn to follow, let this book serve as your proven field guide.

-Sandra Stosz, Vice Admiral, USCG (ret.), trustee for the US Coast Guard Academy James M. Loy Institute for Leadership; Author of Breaking Ice and Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters

This is a classic-one of the few books on leadership that's actually worth reading. The Leadership Challenge is more relevant than ever: a practical, evidence-based resource on how to mobilize people around a common goal.

-Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

I've been a student of leadership derived from my time in the military and a practitioner of the five practices of The Leadership Challenge for nearly 30 years. I have found that The Leadership Challenge is a call to action for any individual who wants to lead through inspiration and accomplish only what others dream of achieving. It's required reading for my leadership team and has been a foundational training platform for my management teams over the years. If you are looking for an X factor in results for yourself, your team, or your company, look no further and devour and apply the principles in this book!

-Mark Leposky, Executive Vice President, Global Operations, Callaway Golf

Jim and Barry's work has transformed our understanding of what constitutes leadership excellence over the last three-plus decades. This updated edition provides essential insights into what it takes to identify and develop stellar leaders now.

-Sally Helgesen, lead author, How Women Rise, author, The Web of Inclusion

I've been a fan-and follower-of The Leadership Challenge for almost 25 years, and the principles are as relevant today as they have ever been. In this leadership classic, Kouzes and Posner have identified and brought to life invaluable practices that are as insightful as they are practical.

-Patrick Lencioni, President, The Table Group; bestselling author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Advantage

I'm a raving fan of Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. There are few, if any, folks in the leadership field better than the two of them. If you don't believe me, read the seventh edition of their classic book, The Leadership Challenge. With every edition they upgrade the content with new research and observations. It continues to be a must-read!

-Ken Blanchard, Co-Author of The One Minute Manager and Simple Truths of Leadership

It has been my experience that many companies underestimate the importance of leadership. In my opinion, leadership is the common ingredient in America's great companies. The Leadership Challenge and the Leadership Practices Inventory create a common language with which leaders can discuss both strategic and everyday issues in leading organizations and people. The characteristics of admired leaders alone set a standard for all executives to follow. The Leadership Challenge's teachings played a strong role in our success.

-Jim Kerr, Executive Chairman, D.A. Davidson Companies

Kouzes and Posner boil down the concepts of excellent leadership into easy-to-apply principles. I share this book with my entire team of young professionals. It is my "go-to" resource and truly helps people grow in their careers.

-Jacquelyn McCormick, Chief of Staff to Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin

Jim and Barry have done it again! An established classic in its field, The Leadership Challenge continues to provide valuable knowledge for today's fast-changing leadership dynamics. Filled with engaging case studies and updated research, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their leadership, team, organization, or career.

-Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach; New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There.

The five practices of exemplary leadership have stood the test of time, and this revised and updated edition shows why. In these volatile and uncertain times, the world needs more leaders to rise to the leadership challenge.

-David Burkus, Author of Leading from Anywhere

Leadership is everyone's business. The Leadership Challenge is essential reading for anyone who wants to be an exceptional leader. Jim and Barry believe that every challenge is an opportunity and provide actions you can take to ensure that you reach leadership success. They demonstrate how you can rise to every occasion to be the best leader you can be.

-Elaine Biech, 2022 ISA Thought Leader, Author, Skills for Career Success, The New Business of Consulting

In 2020 the working world leaped from in-person interaction to virtual meetings. The change confronted leaders with new challenges, yet leadership basics remained the same. Kouzes and Posner hit it head-on in their seventh edition of The Leadership Challenge by building on the foundation of their earlier editions with evidence-based guidance for navigating the new normal.

-Jim Hancock, President and Founder, San Francisco Sailing Science Center

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have once again provided leaders a great gift in the seventh edition of The Leadership Challenge. Truly tested over time, the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership continue to guide leaders at all levels in making positive contributions around the world. This book is not only filled with captivating stories about what great leaders do but shares how they may go about developing themselves to make positive and remarkable differences with the individuals and organizations they encounter.

-Brent Kondritz, Executive Director, University of Dayton Center for Leadership

The Five Practices operating system is not some random set of rules but rather a well-researched framework. I experienced firsthand during these tough times how it made me a better leader.

-Mainak Pal, Senior Project Manager, Global Development, AGTEK Development Company, Inc.

The Five Practices are a timeless and all-encompassing operational leadership system. It is relevant during uncertain times like today and during settled times. It is practical, learnable, measurable, and effective. When put into practice, these skills have proven to be effective leadership tools and can bring out better leaders in all of us.

-Maria Hirotsuka, Senior Manager, Xilinx

When these practices are understood, adopted, and put into practice, anyone can become a better leader. This is not just a system but also a leadership guide. This guide serves as a resource for users to consult when faced with leadership challenges, turning difficulties into opportunities.

-Rusty Stevenson, Senior Contracting Officer, US Department of Veteran Affairs

The pandemic has added new variables and challenges to being a leader, but I...