Personal Leadership: Taking Control of Your Work Life

"Leadership is an active, living process. It is rooted in character, forged by experience, and communicated by example." Those are the opening sentences of this book--and they capture this author's message perfectly. Books on leadership are plentiful, but Baldoni makes his leadership message personal. He's chosen a great title, of course, and the book itself is an easy read. All of the vital points concerning leadership are here. But to me the second half of the book is the most interesting section, as the author gives examples of outstanding leaders from all walks of life. These real-life stories bring to life the concepts we've heard about so often. One other thing I like about Personal Leadership: the author includes an "Action Planner" at the end of every chapter. The questions he asks (for which the reader has to supply the answers) provide an excellent opportunity for a self-evaluation of one's personal journey along the leadership path.

I found this book to be practical and chock full of useful stories that bring home leadership points in the book. Personal Leadership is an excellent book for front line supervisors. It provides many useful frameworks for things leaders may already know but don't have a way to be systematic about. It also brings out issues new leaders may not have even considered but are important to their success. As a trainer in leadership I have seen many books on leadership but few that I feel would be as useful as this one in helping new leaders hit the deck running.

Despite how common the word is in business lexicon, `leadership' can be perceived and defined in many ways - from an executive title to behavior that influences others. What's not in question is that many of us aspire to become leaders, and aren't sure where to start.In Personal Leadership: Taking Control of Your Work Life, author John Baldoni cuts through the intellectual theory of leadership, and shares with readers the inspirational essays, stimulating questions and practical tips that can help anyone cultivate valuable skills on his or her journey towards leadership. His blending of down-to-earth wisdom and powerful anecdotes (all presented in bite-sized pieces) make for an easy-to-read book that's a good addition to the reference libraries of businesses large and small. Rather than falling into the traditional trap of citing only corporate executives as leaders, Baldoni provides examples from the spectrum of life - including Swiss watchmakers, educators, film directors and U.S. presidents - allowing readers to notice the leadership skills within, rather than see leadership as simply a title assigned by a corporation to a select few. Each chapter of Baldoni's book also includes exercises and action planners that transition concepts into action, which is the foundation of any successful personal-development practice. (As Baldoni writes, "Leadership begins with the individual!")The "stories from the front lines" make a lasting impression, serving as windows into the world of leadership that showcase the challenges and triumphs, and the required mindset and mettle. Curiously, all but one of the featured leaders is based in the Detroit, Michigan-area, making one wonder if there's something extra-special in the water supply out there, or if Baldoni's reach extended only so far. This is not to diminish the information that he generously offers in the book, but an element that stands out as unusual in a book that otherwise features a nice depth. Some prospective or actual readers of Baldoni's book might see this as credibility-busting, but that would be a self-limiting mistake.Any current or aspiring leader - regardless of organizational title - will find gems of new information or poignant reminders in this book, and will return to its pages for inspiration and fine-tuning.Bottom line: Personal Leadership is recommended reading.

My first response was, "Not another book about leadership!" But I was surprised to discover a very special book with an amazing amount of practical and inspiring information packed into 219 pages. His framework of insights for leaders is coupled with a selection of leadership profiles of real-life leaders.Most leadership books stay at 30,000 feet. Baldoni brings us down to ground level. He tells us what we actually have to do to be effective leaders at work, at home, or any other place. He hones in on the values, beliefs, and personality that are found in effective leaders, making a distinction between constructive leaders and destructive leaders. The stories about leaders provide a wonderful variety of types of leadership and kinds of organizations. In the profiles a CEO of a Fortune 100 business, two startup entrepreneurs, a school principal, a college coach, and a military commander, we see the same basic principles applied over and over again. It is a pleasure to have the nuts and bolts of day-to-day leadership and real-life examples together in one easy to read book.Adding to the book's appeal is the way Baldoni has embedded the process of reflection into the book. He explains it as an essential leadership skill and then he demonstrates the skill by asking the reader reflective questions at the end of each short chapter. These questions had me thinking about what the chapter meant to me and what I could learn about leadership. The author's engaging writing style is not often seen in management texts. The mix of advice and stories is done with humor and flows easily from topic to topic and chapter to chapter. I recommend this book highly.