The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders

The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders

by Warren Blank
Released April 2001
Publisher(s): AMACOM
ISBN: 0814406467

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

A refreshingly different look at an old question: Are leaders born or made?

Some people appear to be natural born leaders. But are they literally born that way? Or have they been taught, coached, rewarded, and reinforced in ways that enable them to be leaders?

According to The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders, no one is born a leader. But everyone has the natural born capacity to lead. We label people natural born leaders because they consistently and frequently model qualities that inspire others to commit to their direction.

This book identifies the skill set that causes others to see people as natural born leaders, helps readers assess their current level of these skills, and coaches readers to master their weak areas. Readers will learn:

  • Foundation skills, including self-awareness and the ability to establish rapport

  • Direction skills, including the ability to set a course and develop others as leaders

  • Willing follower skills, including the ability to influence others and create a motivating environment.

    •

    Table of contents

    1. Copyright
    2. Acknowledgments
    3. Introduction
    4. The Natural Born Leader Phenomenon
      1. The Natural Born Leader: Fact or Fantasy?
      2. The Portrait of a Natural Born Leader
      3. Tell Me Something I Don't Know
      4. Unset Your Mind and Maximize Your Natural Born Leadership Skills
      5. Are Managers Leaders?
      6. Developing Your Skills as a Natural Born Leader
      7. One Skill Away from Excellence
      8. Are You Worthy of the Natural Born Leader Label?
      9. Endnotes
    5. Self-Assessment: The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders
      1. THE SELF-ASSESSMENT
      2. Your Action Approach
    6. Foundational Skills
      1. Expand Self-Awareness
        1. 1. Get Quiet and Listen
        2. 2. Live with Passion and Direct It with Precision
        3. 3. Achieve Success over Stress
        4. 4. Leverage Time
        5. 5. Juggle Professional and Personal Demands
        6. 6. Remain Flexible in the Face of Difficulty
        7. 7. Use Failure as a Growth Tool
        8. 8. Focus on Lifelong Learning
        9. 9. Seek 360-Degree Feedback
        10. 10. Use Your Whole Brain
        11. 11. Know Your Personality Gene Code
        12. 12. Be an Ocean
        13. Endnotes
      2. Build Rapport
        1. 13. Establish Common Ground
        2. 14. Walk in Another's Shoes
        3. 15. Listen with Active Ears
        4. 16. Be Accessible and Approachable
        5. 17. Develop Remote Leadership Capacity
        6. 18. Size People Up
        7. 19. Apply the Platinum Rule
        8. 20. Tune in to MMFG-AM
        9. 21. Display a Sense of Humor
        10. 22. Demonstrate Rock-Solid Integrity
        11. 23. Build Trust
        12. Endnotes
      3. Clarify Expectations
        1. 24. Establish Mutually Agreed-On Expectations
        2. 25. Root Out Limiting Expectations
        3. 26. Explain Organizational Expectations
        4. 27. Use Fact-Based Thinking
        5. 28. Name the Game
        6. 29. Work the Grapevine
        7. 30. "Netware" Your Expectations
        8. 31. Unravel Rumors
        9. 32. Clarify the Action-Results Connection
        10. 33. Display Unsinkable Optimism
        11. 34. Throw Light on Organizational Shadows
        12. 35. Expect the Unexpected
        13. Endnotes
    7. Leadership Direction Skills
      1. Map the Territory: Identify the Need for Leadership Direction
        1. 36. Go into the GAP: Gain Another Perspective
        2. 37. Work Like Walton: Talk to Everybody
        3. 38. Use Bifocal Consciousness
        4. 39. Recognize Trends
        5. 40. Monitor the Forces of Change
        6. 41. Use Strategic Eyesight
        7. 42. Recognize Root Causes
        8. 43. Sense Possibilities
        9. 44. Display Refined Business Acumen
        10. 45. Be a Quick Study
        11. Endnotes
      2. Chart a Course of Leadership Action
        1. 46. Break the Symmetry—Create a New Symmetry
        2. 47. Lead Boldly Where None Dare
        3. 48. Take the Highest First Action
        4. 49. Create a Vision, Mission, and Values
        5. 50. Develop Scenarios
        6. 51. Chart Local Action to Support the Big Picture
        7. 52. Focus on Customers First
        8. 53. Chart a Course in Response to Change
        9. 54. Demonstrate Political Savvy
        10. 55. Shape and Mirror
        11. 56. Demonstrate Good Citizenship
        12. 57. Know When to Hold 'Em and Know When to Fold 'Em
        13. 58. Step Up and Act: Be Decisive
        14. Endnotes
      3. Develop Others as Leaders
        1. 59. Attract Rising Stars
        2. 60. Use "World Class" as the Standard
        3. 61. Coach and Train
        4. 62. Polish the Whole Diamond
        5. 63. Appraise Continuously
        6. 64. Empower for Results
        7. 65. Teach Situational Wisdom in the Action Continuum
        8. 66. Push Constant Preparation
        9. 67. Use Diversity as a Strength
        10. 68. Differentiate between Can't and Don't
        11. 69. Be an M&M: Model and Motivate Excellence
        12. 70. Pace the Marathon Race
        13. 71. Be First Follower Ready
        14. 72. Lead Up to Formalize Leader Development
        15. Endnotes
    8. Leadership Influence Skills
      1. Build the Base to Gain Commitment
        1. 73. Build Credibility
        2. 74. Establish a Core Cadre of the Committed
        3. 75. Position for Power
        4. 76. Share the Power
        5. 77. Champion and Shield
        6. 78. Adapt to the Follower Continuum
        7. 79. Wear Multiple Hats
        8. 80. Model Commitment
        9. 81. Form Alliances
        10. Endnotes
      2. Influence Others to Willingly Follow
        1. 82. Show Others What's in It for Them: WII-FM
        2. 83. Stay on Message
        3. 84. Use Precise Speech
        4. 85. Use Statistics, Stories, Symbols, and Metaphors
        5. 86. Build the Message
        6. 87. Communicate Confidence, Conviction, and Enthusiasm
        7. 88. Speak the Follower's Language
        8. 89. Communicate with Congruence
        9. 90. Reframe to Motivate
        10. 91. Work through the Resistance
        11. 92. Bounce Back When People Won't Follow
        12. 93. Work the Web
        13. 94. Focus on First Followers First
        14. 95. Write for the Front Page
        15. Endnotes
      3. Create a Motivating Environment
        1. 96. Establish a Core Identity
        2. 97. Mold a Strong and Adaptive Culture
        3. 98. Create Action Scorecards
        4. 99. Position the Players
        5. 100. Put Everybody in Charge
        6. 101. Foster Open Communication
        7. 102. Maximize Decision Participation
        8. 103. Forge FeedbackLoops
        9. 104. Melt Conflict Icebergs
        10. 105. Begin with a Win
        11. 106. Use the Entire Arsenal of Incentives
        12. 107. Set the Ethical Edge
        13. 108. Be the Thermostat
        14. Endnotes
      4. Freedom Is Fulfilling
        1. The Foundational Skill Challenge: Constant Attention
        2. The Leadership Direction Skill Challenge: Change and Information Overload
        3. Leadership Influence Skill Challenge: Complexity and Diversity
        4. The Secret Skill: Number 109
    9. The 108 Natural Born Leader Skills
      1. Foundational Skills
      2. Leadership Direction Skills
      3. Leadership Influence Skills
    10. Bibliography

    Product information

    • Title: The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders
    • Author(s): Warren Blank
    • Release date: April 2001
    • Publisher(s): AMACOM
    • ISBN: 0814406467