Rating: 
Summary: Real How-To Information
Review:
This book has been around in various editions for almost twenty years now. One reason for that is that it is an excellent overview of leadership in organizations and how you can do it yourself.
The book's structure follows its basic recommendations. The authors recommend five fundamental practices, each of which has two commandments, for a total of ten. In general, these are both straightforward and insightful. "Challenge the Process" talks about searching for opportunities, experimenting, and taking risks. "Modeling the Way" talks about setting the example and planning small wins. There is also material on "Enabling Others to Act."
Then there are a couple of weaker sections. Sections on inspiring and encouraging simply are too fluffy and lack the support that is given to other points.
Even having said that, this is a book that's worth reading if you are responsible for leadership in an organization of any size. The reason is the way the book came together.
The authors used two different kinds of research to develop their recommendations. They looked at over five hundred leaders, but they looked at them in a particular way.
In each case, they had asked the leader to talk about his or her actions as a leader when they were doing excellent work. In other words, they looked for excellent examples of leadership and tried to draw lessons from them.
They also went to the other side and talked to followers about what they wanted in leaders. When they put those two kinds of research together, you get recommendations that are both practical and, for the most part, behavioral.
Warren Bennis' recent book, Geeks and Geezers, is an excellent companion for this book. In that book, Bennis talks about crucibles of leadership or experiences, which provide intense stress and learning of leadership that form leadership values.
On the plus side this is good, practical, behavioral and helpful if you're responsible for a group of any kind or size. On the downside, some of the language can be fuzzy and simplistic, and some of the concepts, like "Encourage the Heart" sounds just a tad too New Age for my taste.
Rating: 
Summary: Leadership Formula
Review: First published in 1987, The Leadership Challenge, turns out to be the most useful and well-read book in my extensive management library. It does not have the sycophantic following of say, The 7 Habits, but it does adorn the library of many of our best leaders today. Although the book has evolved over the last decade into a how-to book (with planning guide), it remains one of the most authoritative books on the real qualities and characteristics of leadership.
The substance of most management books can be written in a sentence or two. Not with this important work. Barry Posner and James Kouzes have something of value to say in every chapter. If you like stats and backup, they have that too!
The authors outline the five practices of effective leadership: Model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. This is a winning formula. I know I've tried it. The essence of their message can be found very early in the book: "...For people to follow someone willingly" the leader must demonstrate honesty, vision, competence, and inspiration. That's easier said than done, but it is well said. If you want to lead, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: a lot of good information
Review: "The leadership Challenge hits the top ten book category for leaders and managers at all levels. I continually use it with leaders and organizations in multiple countries"
- Bruce McNicolHaving read other leadership books, I disagree with the above statement. This book is pretty good, and do I like it for the work that has been put into this book. I think its for somebody who never read any other leadership books. But to say that its good for all level is wrong. This books attempts to tackle all kinds of issues. Starting from the basic foundation of trust. He talks bout finding your value, sharing them, envision the future, and enlist others, blah blah. Not good for all levels, but perfect for beginning leaders. CASE FOR: They cover a lot of important information missed in some other books. The leadership Challenge tackles some personal issues, which is very important. This is a very useful book; it's based on principles, and not on some philosophy/theory. CASE AGAINST: 458 pages, I found myself skipping through pages. Something that could/should have been said in one sentence, was said in one page. Too many stories...
Rating:
Summary: Concepts that have stood the test of time
Review: "The leadership Challenge hits the top ten book category for leaders and managers at all levels. I continually use it with leaders and organizations in multiple countries"
- Bruce McNicol Having read other leadership books, I disagree with the above statement. This book is pretty good, and do I like it for the work that has been put into this book. I think its for somebody who never read any other leadership books. But to say that its good for all level is wrong. This books attempts to tackle all kinds of issues. Starting from the basic foundation of trust. He talks bout finding your value, sharing them, envision the future, and enlist others, blah blah. Not good for all levels, but perfect for beginning leaders. CASE FOR: They cover a lot of important information missed in some other books. The leadership Challenge tackles some personal issues, which is very important. This is a very useful book; it's based on principles, and not on some philosophy/theory. CASE AGAINST: 458 pages, I found myself skipping through pages. Something that could/should have been said in one sentence, was said in one page. Too many stories...
Rating:
Summary: a lot of good information
Review: "The leadership Challenge hits the top ten book category for leaders and managers at all levels. I continually use it with leaders and organizations in multiple countries"
- Bruce McNicol Having read other leadership books, I disagree with the above statement. This book is pretty good, and do I like it for the work that has been put into this book. I think its for somebody who never read any other leadership books. But to say that its good for all level is wrong. This books attempts to tackle all kinds of issues. Starting from the basic foundation of trust. He talks bout finding your value, sharing them, envision the future, and enlist others, blah blah. Not good for all levels, but perfect for beginning leaders. CASE FOR: They cover a lot of important information missed in some other books. The leadership Challenge tackles some personal issues, which is very important. This is a very useful book; it's based on principles, and not on some philosophy/theory. CASE AGAINST: 458 pages, I found myself skipping through pages. Something that could/should have been said in one sentence, was said in one page. Too many stories...
Rating: 
Summary: This book would have you believe in the tooth fairy
Review: "The Prince" describes real leadership. The book talks about honesty as the number one trait we would like to see in leaders. But in reality, it is the person who can lie well that succedes. While the authors make you feel like you have the power to take on the universe, really the tools and traits they describe leads mainly to mediocrity.
Rating:
Summary: The Ten Commitments of Leadership
Review: "Think of the Leadership Challenge as a field guide to take along on your leadership journey." James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner write, "We've designed it to describe what leaders do, explain the fundamental principles that support these leadership practices, provide actual case examples of real people who demonstrate each practice, and offer specific recommendations on what you can do to make these practices your own and to continue your development as a leader...As we looked deeper into the dynamic process of leadership, through case analyses and survey questionnaires, we uncovered five fundamental practices that enable leaders to get extraordinary things done. The individual stories of how ordinary people got extraordinary things done brought the leadership model to life for us, giving it character and color. When they were at their personal best, the leaders we studied were able to challenge the process, inspire a shared vision, enable others to act, model the way, ana encourage the heart. These practices aren't the private property of the people we studied or of a few select shining stars. They've stood the test of time, and they're available to anyone, in any organization or situation, who accepts the leadership challenge." In this context, Kouzes and Posner say that embedded in the five fundamental practices of exemplary leadership are beheviors that can serve as the basis of learning to lead. And they call these behaviors as the Ten Commitments of Leadership. According to them these ten commitments serve as the guide for their discussion of how leaders get extraordinary things done in organizations and as the structure for what's to follow. Each of these commitments are fully explored in Chapters 3 through 12. Practice I- Challenging the Process Commitment 1. Search out challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate and improve. Commitment 2. Experiment, take risks, and learn from the accompanying mistakes. Practice II- Inspiring a Shared Vision Commitment 3. Envision an uplifting and ennobling future. Commitment 4. Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes, and dreams. Practice III- Enabling Others to Act Commitment 5. Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust. Commitment 6. Strengthen people by giving power away, providing choice, developing competence, assigning critical tasks, and offering visible support. Practice IV- Modeling the Way Commitment 7. Set the example by behaving in ways that are consistent with shared values. Commitment 8. Achieve small wins that promote consistent progress and build commitment. Practice V- Encouraging the Heart Commitment 9. Recognize individual contributions to the success of every project. Commitment 10. Celebrate team accomplishments regularly. I highly recommend this business classic on leadership.
Rating:
Summary: "Unequivocally superior book on leadership"
Review: As other reviewers have commented; there is a ton of information in this book. I will add; tons of fantastic information! This is a book I have been reading sporadically for the past nine months. Why have I taken so long to read it? I will read it for a while, put it aside, read another book, then return to this one. It is profound. The only book on leadership better than this (maybe): Principle Centered Leadership. The copy I read was the first edition. I've skimmed through this edition and found that the authors have added websites and other informative stuff to keep it up to date. Each time I've returned to this book I wonder: why did I ever put it down? If you are a manager or an aspiring leader, like me...Read this one. You'll be glad you did. I know for a fact, this book is required reading for certain business majors.
Rating:
Summary: "Unequivocally superior book on leadership"
Review: As other reviewers have commented; there is a ton of information in this book. I will add; tons of fantastic information! This is a book I have been reading sporadically for the past nine months. Why have I taken so long to read it? I will read it for a while, put it aside, read another book, then return to this one. It is profound. The only book on leadership better than this (maybe): Principle Centered Leadership. The copy I read was the first edition. I've skimmed through this edition and found that the authors have added websites and other informative stuff to keep it up to date. Each time I've returned to this book I wonder: why did I ever put it down? If you are a manager or an aspiring leader, like me...Read this one. You'll be glad you did. I know for a fact, this book is required reading for certain business majors.
Rating:
Summary: Best leadership study I've read yet! Outstanding!!
Review: For leaders who have been in that vocation for some time, this book serves as a refresher, and perhaps the acknowledgment of the methods leaders choose. Focused on long-term organizational growth and health, it reminds one that short term gains are the province of managers, while leaders continually challenge and motivate people to achieve the extraordinary. For the new leader, this is an in-depth primer, broken down into chunks small enough to digest, but full of insight and inspiration. It is not a how-to book per se, but does outline a path towards better leadership, and challenges one to develop themselves with a purpose. I loved it! My copy is note-ridden, earmarked, annotated, and continually referred to for anecdotes and ideas. Buy a copy for every developing leader beneath you, and start a development plan for them all.
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