A leadership book for the new leader
You are a talented engineer. You’ve lead technical research and product development teams. But running a team is one thing. Now you’re promoted to a role where leading is just about all you need to do.
That’s a great time to pick up a book from my friend Stephanie Olexa titled The L.E.A.R.N.E.D. Leader.
L.E.A.R.N.E.D is an acronym for
L = Listen
E = Examine through Appreciative Inquiry and Powerful Questions
A = Accept without judging; it is what it is
R = Reflect on what you know
N = Navigate the way forward; define success; set goals
E = Engage all the stakeholders; get input and buy-in
D = Do; take action towards the goals
This book is written as an allegory or story. It is a quick read, as the new leader likely has a lot on their plate. Because it is a story, it is difficult to extract a lot of excerpts that would stand alone well. It is a useful book for the experienced leader to hear it in a different voice, in a different way, to help reinforce some fundamental aspects. It is a relatively low investment of time for some great thoughts and insights. And its an absolutely must read for the new leader who has to quickly gain some traction with their new team.
I hope you enjoy it.