Rating: 
Summary: Intellectual Cherries Jubilee
Review: "Primal Leadership" is the latest best-seller in the "emotional intelligence" business book series that has become a franchise for psychologist and former New York Times writer Daniel Goleman. It might be accurately subtitled: "Three Ph.D.s Cite Tons of Research to Convince Business Executives (Yet Again) that Feelings Matter to People at Work." The research underlying the authors' assertions about the importance of improving one's emotional control and quality of interpersonal relationships is chronicled in end notes that run 34 pages in relatively small point type. If you aren't an end note reader, you may not notice that the otherwise credible trio of Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee often give no credit whatsoever in the book's very readable main narrative to the scientists whose work they unabashedly appropriate or reference only in passing. This is especially surprising and disappointing given Dr. Boyatzis's own substantial and distinguished history of contributions to the academic and practical literature. The "Primal Leadership" authors' well-documented case boils down to this: 1) People respond to their leaders either positively or negatively. And therefore, 2) Leaders need to work on developing an effective leadership style by A. Knowing themselves, B. Controlling their emotional impulses, C. Relating better to others, D. Influencing others to further the organization's work. Hard to argue with that, even without a truckload of citations. Now the critical question: Will reading this book give you the tools to improve your own "emotional intelligence"? In a word, an emphatic and disappointing, no. You may find yourself jumping up and down screaming, "Yes! Yes! Yes!," to the book's persuasive demand for better leaders, but you're inevitably left whimpering, "Now what?" For example, the authors tell us we need to "reconfigure" our brains but offer scant help in defining a useful process for accomplishing that. In fact, that is the recurring fatal flaw for this occasionally impressive work--calling for action but specifying little but tired, overly-familiar generalities. Its recommendations should be familiar to anyone who has ever taken the most basic leadership course (or heard even a mediocre professional speaker at a conference in the past 30 years):
1. Picture your ideal self.
2. Assess your current self.
3. Develop a learning agenda.
4. Experiment with new practices. 5. Develop supportive relationships. To flesh out these familiar themes, "Primal Leadership" offers vague approaches such as "stealth learning"--code, apparently, for accidental learning by, uh, living. And it points to old standbys such as using mental rehearsal and actual practice to break old habits. On what should you focus your mental and physical rehearsals? Well, the authors advise paying attention to your 360-degree feedback, and perhaps finding a mentor or hiring a coach to find out. Hardly the stuff that one needs reams of doctorate-level research to conclude. The same is true of the advice offered for "building emotionally intelligent organizations." The authors suggest creating "process norms" and ground rules for teams, and holding honest conversations about the culture that people work in. Does any of that strike you as new or even particularly insightful? Okay, how about this one. The authors urge: Have a vision. A busy executive simply won't find much here for undertaking the self-improvement for which Dr. Goleman and his colleagues incessantly lobby. In fact, you could capture all the book's useful advice in a one-page outline. But it will take you many hours to tease it out of the lengthy prose. And once you have, it won't impress you as new or novel. In the final analysis, this sizeable and serious-sounding book is neither scholarly nor practical. It is a resounding success in making a compelling case for action but then fails just as miserably in offering nothing but the vaguest and most uninspired plan for action. Strip away the research citations and Daniel Goleman and his erstwhile colleagues have delivered the same old plea for better leaders with the same old solutions for creating them--all dressed up in a new best-seller. So, unfortunately, for the intended business manager reader this well-documented work amounts to intellectual cherries jubilee: tantalizing, sophisticated, carefully prepared, but devoid of useful nutrients.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, Though Missing One Important Thing
Review: "Primal Leadership" by Daniel Goleman is intellectually well done, from its presentation to its supporting examples. Though I agree with everything in the book, one important thing is missing that anyone really serious about all of this will absolutely need. That is, a basic philosophical understanding of the morals, ethics, and character required for GOOD leadership. I recommend the book "West Point: Character, Leadership,..." by Norman Thomas Remick for that.
Rating:
Summary: I Found This Book To Be Useful
Review: "Primal Leadership" cuts to the quick when it talks about emotional intelligence. Some scholarly type reviewers have criticized Mr. Goleman for not being up to speed on the latest scholarly research. Others out here in the business world say it is too scholarly, not practical enough. What's that old saying about pleasing people? I think, for the purpose he intended it, the author knew what he was doing. I say it is a very useful book. It only lacks giving a reader the philosophical basics for an understanding of what leadership is. But, in all fairness, that is beyond the scope of this book which I now recommend to you as probably one of the few reviewers who has actually read the book.
Also recommended: "West Point: Character Leadership Education.." by Norman Thomas Remick (for the philosophical basics).
Rating:
Summary: A most for leaders at all levels
Review: An excellent book; as a textbook for the newbies or a reference for the experienced EI-aware leader.
Rating: 
Summary: Old wine in new bottles
Review: As a professor of organizational behavior I fully embrace the concept and notion of emotional intelligence, but not how Goleman has defined it. Others have done more solid work than has Goleman, but unfortunately they have not received much credit. Serious scholars of intelligence (social, emotional, or practical) don't really take Goleman very seriously, and it is sad to see "hype" and attention Goleman gets. As regards Mr. Goleman's recent escapades into leadership all I can say is that what he has recently discovered has [already] been discussed previously by many scholars of charismatic leadership (and related theories of inspirational, and Pygmalion leadership).
Rating: 
Summary: Discovering a new leadership paradigm
Review: Daniel Goleman has written two previous books on Emotional Intelligence and why it is more important than IQ over a person's lifetime. This book takes those concepts of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and applies them to successful leadership roles. In doing so it moves leadership from an art form to science. While it is not difficult to follow this book even if you are not familiar with his prior works, familiarity with the concepts would make the reading flow much smoother. For this text he is joined by EI experts and co-authors Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee as they unravel the use of EI in the workplace. The bottom line of Primal Leadership is that one of the most important tasks of a leader is to create good feelings in the people they lead. They do this by maintaining those same positive feelings in themselves. In addition they have to create change, sustain change, and build an EI competent organization. The book introduces the concept of "resonant leadership". This is the tendency of employees to perceive the business environment in the same manner that their leaders do. The moods, opinions, and actions of the leaders resonate to their employees and create the same feelings in them. The top leaders develop four leadership styles and have the ability to easily change between them as needed. The book not only defines primal leadership but details how to develop and use these leadership qualities to make your business excel when others flounder. A great read with a thought-provoking analysis, this book is required reading for those seeking to excel as leaders in their organization.
Rating:
Summary: Few Understand
Review: Daniel Goleman's "Primal Leadership" is intellectually well done, from the "head" of its effective presentation to the "tow" of its supporting examples. Now, anyone who is really serious about leadership for the long haul absolutely needs to also get down to acquiring a basic philosophical understanding of morals, ethics, and character, the links to GOOD leadership. For that, I recommend that, after you finish reading Mr. Goleman's great book, you fill in those missing links that are critical, but few understand, by going on to read Norman Thomas Remick's easy philosophy behind good-leadership, "West Point: Character Leadership Education: Thomas Jefferson"
Rating:
Summary: got it for a class assignment kept it for future leadership
Review: Daniel Goleman's book, Primal leadership is one of the best I have ever read on the topic. I am a communications major and have done much research on leadership and communicatory roles. This book really helped me identify how a leader is built and what makes an effective leader. I purchased this book for a class assignment, but I am going to keep it for future leadership plans. Leaders are not the only ones who should read this book, everyone should. I learned so much from the book that can be applied in every day life. The first section was the best, but the rest of the book supplemented the first section very well.
Where other books have failed, Goleman has triumphantly achieved. This book if used correctly can shape a leadewr out of anyone who abides by it. With plenty of examples and easy to understand language, Primal Leadership should be recommended for all.
Primal Leadership is a must read for anyone about to enter the working world to peoplem who have been there for a while. The material is so interesting taht this 300 page book flies by in no time at all. While reading all I wanted to do was see what was on the next page. This book really impressed me and changed a bit of my thought procesess. Now I am about to graduate in 2 weeks time and I feel much more comfortable in entering the "real world".
Rating:
Summary: Leading through Emotions, Intellect and Cognitive Skills
Review: Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee first correctly remind us about the importance of dealing with emotions in the workplace. To their credit, Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee do not downplay the dramatic impact of both intellect and cognitive skills in building a company to last. Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee then explore the four emotional intelligence dimensions and their associated competencies: Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Those capabilities are key to managing others successfully. After exploring each of these four concepts of emotionally intelligent leadership, Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee apply them to the six types of leadership styles: Visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding. The authors convincingly demonstrate that emotionally intelligent leaders are flexible in their use of leadership styles because some styles are more appropriate than others in specific situations. Emotionally sub-optimal leaders who are willing to improve themselves can learn through self-directed learning and with the help of others how to fill the gaps that separate them from emotionally intelligent leaders. Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee also explore how to build emotionally intelligent organizations. Ignoring how to deal with the realities of team norms and organizational culture often is a recipe for disaster as Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee clearly show us. The result is indeed a toxic and rebellious environment that will have a negative impact on both customer and investor loyalty. Finally, Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee examine the process for sustaining emotionally intelligent leadership over time. To summarize, "Primal Leadership" is a good read that brings an additional dimension of leadership to our attention.
Rating:
Summary: Opens up another dimension for leadership
Review: Emotionally intelligent leaders connect with their people. This leadership quality speaks for itself, unites employees behind the leader's mission, encouraging them to be more productive. This book is uniquely valuable in that it explains the value of different types of repertoire -- visionary, coaching, affiliative, and democratic -- and when to apply them. Daniel Goleman should be applauded for restoring humanity into the workplace with his concept of Emotional Intelligence. Personally, I achieved emotional intelligence with a practical how-to book called "Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self." Optimal Thinking explains the message behind each emotion and provides the best questions to ask ourselves and others to obtain emotional resolution and optimal results.
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