Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition

Chapter Two

Deepening Emotional Awareness

Discovery and clarification of personal values does not, in itself, create good communication skills—nor does it guarantee the ability to lead.

To lead involves a substantially different decision than merely to get something done. Rather than deciding to lead, you could decide to become a good artist or a compelling author—someone who perhaps has great personal insight—an invaluable individual contributor who achieves outstanding results alone. Many philosophers contribute in this way, as do many of our most accomplished commentators.

In organizations, each of us can do exceptional work that expresses our values without communicating with others directly, and even when we do communicate, we can merely ...