ERIKA ANDERSEN is founding partner of the consulting firm Proteus International and the author of Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers and Being Strategic: Plan for Success, Out-Think Your Competitors, Stay Ahead of Change, which she adapted into a public television show, Being Strategic with Erika Andersen. She also blogs at blogs.[...] and at [...].

1 The Longing for Good Leaders 1

Our Leader Longing Is Wired In * Cracking the Code

2 Firesides and Folktales 7

Stories Hold the Map * The Six Attributes * Reflecting on Your Leadership * Hearing the Story

3 Farsighted 21

See Possible Futures * Articulate the Vision * Model the Vision * See Past Obstacles * Invite Participation

4 Passionate 49

Commit Honestly * Make a Clear Case Without Dogma * Invite Real Dialogue * Support Your Passion * Remain Committed

5 Courageous 63

Make Tough Choices * Risk Yourself for the Enterprise * Do Personally Difficult Things * Take Responsibility * Admit Mistakes

6 Wise 83

Be Curious--Listen! * Assess Objectively * Learn from Your Experience * See and Share Patterns * Act Based on Your Sense of Right

7 Generous 105

Assume Positive Intent * Share Power * Share What You Know * Freely Give Credit, Praise, and Reward * Provide Necessary Resources for Success

8 Trustworthy 137

Tell the Truth * Do What You Say You Will * Keep Confidences * Speak and Act for the Greater Good * Get Results

9 Friends for the Journey 157

Leading as a Group Endeavor * Wizards, Well-Wishers, and Wild Cards * Finding Your Supporters

10 Your Own Tale 167

Reassess Yourself * Make a Plan * Rely on Your Wizards, Well-Wishers, and Wild Cards

Epilogue 173

Listening and Self-Talk for Leaders: Bonus Section 175

Acknowledgments 187

The Author 189

Index 191