The Power of Positive Leadership, Revised & Updated
The 9 Essential Principles and Practices to Be a Great Leader
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 10. March 2026
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-1-394-36211-0 (ISBN)
Description
More than 250,000 sold
In his bestselling book The Power of Positive Leadership, 18x bestselling author Jon Gordon teaches readers that we are not positive because life is easy; we are positive because life can be hard! Leaders are bound to face numerous obstacles, negativity, and tests, and there will be times when it seems as if everything in the world is conspiring against you-which is why positive leadership is essential.
In the revised and updated Second Edition, Gordon reminds readers that the research is clear: being a positive leader is not just a nice way to lead. It's the only way to lead if you want to build a great culture, unite your organization in the face of adversity, develop a connected and committed team, and achieve excellence and superior results.
This book teaches readers to:
Use love as the greatest leadership principle on the planet
Pursue excellence by being humble and hungry
Develop grit, embrace failure, ignore the critics, and do the work
The Power of Positive Leadership earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of all leaders in business and beyond seeking to get the best out of themselves and others.
In his bestselling book The Power of Positive Leadership, 18x bestselling author Jon Gordon teaches readers that we are not positive because life is easy; we are positive because life can be hard! Leaders are bound to face numerous obstacles, negativity, and tests, and there will be times when it seems as if everything in the world is conspiring against you-which is why positive leadership is essential.
In the revised and updated Second Edition, Gordon reminds readers that the research is clear: being a positive leader is not just a nice way to lead. It's the only way to lead if you want to build a great culture, unite your organization in the face of adversity, develop a connected and committed team, and achieve excellence and superior results.
This book teaches readers to:
Use love as the greatest leadership principle on the planet
Pursue excellence by being humble and hungry
Develop grit, embrace failure, ignore the critics, and do the work
The Power of Positive Leadership earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of all leaders in business and beyond seeking to get the best out of themselves and others.
More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Dimensions
Height: 150 mm
Width: 224 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
406 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-394-36211-0 (9781394362110)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Jon Gordon
The Power of Positive Leadership, Revised & Updated
The 9 Essential Principles and Practices to Be a Great Leader
E-Book
01/2026
1st Edition
Wiley
€20.99
Available for download
Jon Gordon
The Power of Positive Leadership, Revised & Updated
The 9 Essential Principles and Practices to Be a Great Leader
E-Book
01/2026
1st Edition
Wiley
€20.99
Available for download
Previous edition
Jon Gordon | Stephen Mackey
The Power of Positive Leadership for Teens
How Positive Teen Leaders Transform Teams and Change the World
Book
approx. 05/2028
Wiley
€25.50
Not yet published
Person
JON GORDON is an 18-time bestselling author, top leadership speaker, and consultant who has worked with many of the top leaders and organizations on the planet. He impacts millions of people each year with his books, talks, podcasts, and messages.
Visit him at JonGordon.com
Content
1 From Negative to Positive 1
2 Real Positive 7
3 Positive Leaders Drive Positive Cultures 13
Your Most Important Job 16
Culture Beats Strategy 17
Know What You Stand For 19
More Than Words 21
Positively Contagious 22
Create a Culture That People Feel 23
Invest in the Root If You Want the Fruit 25
You Must Keep Building Your Culture 26
4 Positive Leaders Create and Share a Positive Vision 29
A North Star 32
A Telescope and Microscope 34
Dabo Swinney's Vision 34
Nido's Extraordinary Transformation 38
Keep the Vision Alive 39
Make the Vision Come Alive 40
My Vision 41
5 Positive Leaders Lead with Optimism, Positivity, and Belief 45
Believe It and You'll See It 50
If You Don't Have It, You Can't Share It 51
Feed the Positive Dog 52
Talk to Yourself 53
It's All How You See It 54
Tell Yourself a Positive Story 55
Challenge or Opportunity 56
Shark or Goldfish 57
Think Like a Rookie 58
Defeating Murphy 59
Inside Out 60
Distort Reality 61
Leadership Is a Transfer of Belief 62
Lead with Faith Instead of Fear 63
Be an Over-Believer 64
Don't Stop Believing 65
Your Leadership Journey 66
6 Positive Leaders Confront, Transform, and Remove Negativity 69
Your Positivity Must Be Greater Than All the Negativity 72
No Energy Vampires Allowed 73
Why Wait? 74
The First Step Is to Transform 75
Start at the Culture Level 76
Remove the Negativity 77
Sooner or Later 78
Lead from Where You Are 79
Implement the No Complaining Rule 80
Michael Phelps's Positive Leadership 82
Don't Be Negative About Negativity 83
7 Positive Leaders Unite and Connect 85
Connection Is the Difference 88
Team Beats Talent When Talent Isn't a Team 91
Dabo Swinney's Safe Seat 93
Collaborate and Facilitate 94
Don't Let Your Reptile Eat Your Positive Dog 95
8 Positive Leaders Build Great Relationships and Teams 97
Love Is a Verb 99
Love Is the Greatest Leadership Principle on the Planet 100
Rules Without Relationship Lead to Rebellion 101
Communication Builds Trust 102
Where There Is a Void in Communication, Negativity Will Fill It 104
Leading by Walking Around 105
Listening Is Communicating 106
Enhance Your Positive Communication 107
Be an Encourager 109
Believe in Others More Than They Believe in Themselves 111
Help Your Team Become Unstoppable 111
Connect One on One 113
Be Committed 115
Serve to Be Great 116
Doing the Laundry 117
It's Not About You 119
Commit to Coach 120
Commitment Requires Sacrifice 121
Fans First 122
Elite of the Elite 124
Positive Leaders Care 124
Develop Your Caring Trademark 126
The Sandwich 130
9 Positive Leaders Pursue Excellence 133
Humble and Hungry 135
There Is No Finish Line 136
Demanding Without Being Demeaning 137
Love and Accountability 138
Love Tough 140
Create a Masterpiece 140
Clarity and Action 142
10 Positive Leaders Lead with Purpose 145
Find and Live Your Purpose 149
Share the Purpose 151
Inspire Others to Live Their Purpose 152
Purpose-Driven Goals 152
One Word 155
Life Word 156
Leave a Legacy 157
Give People Great Stories to Tell 158
Life and Death 159
11 Positive Leaders Have Grit 161
Grit Formula: Grit is: 165
Embrace Failure 169
Ignore the Critics; Do the Work 170
12 Lead the Way Forward 173
Notes 183
Acknowledgments 185
Certified Positive Leader 187
Bring the Power of Positive Leadership to Your Organization 189
Get Positive Mindset and Leadership Tips 191
Other Books by Jon Gordon 193
2 Real Positive 7
3 Positive Leaders Drive Positive Cultures 13
Your Most Important Job 16
Culture Beats Strategy 17
Know What You Stand For 19
More Than Words 21
Positively Contagious 22
Create a Culture That People Feel 23
Invest in the Root If You Want the Fruit 25
You Must Keep Building Your Culture 26
4 Positive Leaders Create and Share a Positive Vision 29
A North Star 32
A Telescope and Microscope 34
Dabo Swinney's Vision 34
Nido's Extraordinary Transformation 38
Keep the Vision Alive 39
Make the Vision Come Alive 40
My Vision 41
5 Positive Leaders Lead with Optimism, Positivity, and Belief 45
Believe It and You'll See It 50
If You Don't Have It, You Can't Share It 51
Feed the Positive Dog 52
Talk to Yourself 53
It's All How You See It 54
Tell Yourself a Positive Story 55
Challenge or Opportunity 56
Shark or Goldfish 57
Think Like a Rookie 58
Defeating Murphy 59
Inside Out 60
Distort Reality 61
Leadership Is a Transfer of Belief 62
Lead with Faith Instead of Fear 63
Be an Over-Believer 64
Don't Stop Believing 65
Your Leadership Journey 66
6 Positive Leaders Confront, Transform, and Remove Negativity 69
Your Positivity Must Be Greater Than All the Negativity 72
No Energy Vampires Allowed 73
Why Wait? 74
The First Step Is to Transform 75
Start at the Culture Level 76
Remove the Negativity 77
Sooner or Later 78
Lead from Where You Are 79
Implement the No Complaining Rule 80
Michael Phelps's Positive Leadership 82
Don't Be Negative About Negativity 83
7 Positive Leaders Unite and Connect 85
Connection Is the Difference 88
Team Beats Talent When Talent Isn't a Team 91
Dabo Swinney's Safe Seat 93
Collaborate and Facilitate 94
Don't Let Your Reptile Eat Your Positive Dog 95
8 Positive Leaders Build Great Relationships and Teams 97
Love Is a Verb 99
Love Is the Greatest Leadership Principle on the Planet 100
Rules Without Relationship Lead to Rebellion 101
Communication Builds Trust 102
Where There Is a Void in Communication, Negativity Will Fill It 104
Leading by Walking Around 105
Listening Is Communicating 106
Enhance Your Positive Communication 107
Be an Encourager 109
Believe in Others More Than They Believe in Themselves 111
Help Your Team Become Unstoppable 111
Connect One on One 113
Be Committed 115
Serve to Be Great 116
Doing the Laundry 117
It's Not About You 119
Commit to Coach 120
Commitment Requires Sacrifice 121
Fans First 122
Elite of the Elite 124
Positive Leaders Care 124
Develop Your Caring Trademark 126
The Sandwich 130
9 Positive Leaders Pursue Excellence 133
Humble and Hungry 135
There Is No Finish Line 136
Demanding Without Being Demeaning 137
Love and Accountability 138
Love Tough 140
Create a Masterpiece 140
Clarity and Action 142
10 Positive Leaders Lead with Purpose 145
Find and Live Your Purpose 149
Share the Purpose 151
Inspire Others to Live Their Purpose 152
Purpose-Driven Goals 152
One Word 155
Life Word 156
Leave a Legacy 157
Give People Great Stories to Tell 158
Life and Death 159
11 Positive Leaders Have Grit 161
Grit Formula: Grit is: 165
Embrace Failure 169
Ignore the Critics; Do the Work 170
12 Lead the Way Forward 173
Notes 183
Acknowledgments 185
Certified Positive Leader 187
Bring the Power of Positive Leadership to Your Organization 189
Get Positive Mindset and Leadership Tips 191
Other Books by Jon Gordon 193