Leaders are critically important in sustaining excellence – leadership has a multiplicative impact on Xcellence or the X Factor. The X Factor is the combination of effective leadership, performance and organizational or personal health. All three of these capabilities are needed and must be developed and balanced to sustain Xcellence. The right combination of these three concepts drive results, improve performance and grow leaders…in short, it is how individuals and organizations sustain Xcellence.
Most leaders, though well intended, aren’t consistent in their leadership philosophy or how they describe leadership. Most don’t have a good way to summarize what they believe and why. When you ask a leader to describe their leadership philosophy, you usually get a list of specific attributes or ideas. The list must be personalized to be effective and meaningful. They have been developed over a period of time and tested in the crucible of stress and action. What is missing from most lists and statements of philosophy is the reason behind the list, the “why”, the connection to a larger purpose, reason or personal voice.
Major General (Retired) Keith Thurgood, Ph.S. has his own leadership principles called “Rules of the Road.” In early 2001, he spent a serious amount of time condensing his leadership lists into a few bite-sized statements that could be easily remembered and meaningful to his soldiers.
This is a book about leadership…wrapped in a personal change management message.