Suggested Reading

Leadership is an Art

by Max De Pree

Leadership is an Art says more about leadership in clearer, more elegant, and more convincing language than many of the much longer books that have been published on the subject. De Pree looks at leadership as a kind of stewardship, stressing the importance of building relationships, initiating ideas, and creating a lasting value system within an organization. Rather than focusing on the “hows” of leadership, he explains the “whys.” He shows that the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality and the last is to say thank you. Along the way, the artful leader must: stimulate effectiveness by enabling others to reach both their highest potential; take a role in developing, expressing, and defending values; nurture new leaders; and ensure the continuation of the corporate culture. This is a must-read on the topic of leadership and business management.