Best New Leadership Book Of 2021

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by AdminPugur1

3 years ago 5

This
time each year, I select my pick for best new leadership book for the year. For
2021, my pick is, Heart First, Lasting Leadership Lessons
From A Year That Changed Everything, by David Grossman,
published in July 2021.

Written
by a wise, award-winning leadership and communications expert, Grossman supplies
clear, timely, critical, actionable advice, how-to’s and tips for leaders as the
pandemic continues to challenge us…and as we get past the pandemic.

I
selected this book because the book is easy to read, incredibly engaging, and
is filled with inspirational and powerful stories of lessons learned by a
wealth of leaders with diverse backgrounds. Plus, it covers today’s pertinent
topics for workplace leaders, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and
culture.

It’s
a playbook you’ll want to read and then refer to time after time. And, if you
read only one leadership book next year, make it this one.

Reflecting
on the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic, David says, “I saw many leaders
using this challenging time as an opportunity to stand up and lead in moving
ways. I was continually inspired by the concrete action leaders took to lead
and communicate with heart – and guts. That is what this book is all about –
applying those lessons learned to provide clear direction on how to be the
very best leader and communicator you can possibly be.”

He
adds, “During the pandemic, many leaders rose to the occasion, often by drawing
not just from experience and wise counsel, but from being human as they led –
what David calls Heart First leadership.”

Ten
book chapters cover:

Q&A
from the front lines
Lead
yourself first
Know
your audience and their needs
Show
your human side
Communicate
the right messages at the right times
Frame
the context and make it relevant
Talk
openly about what’s happening
Use
the right channels to communicate with impact
Be
ready to answer questions
Be
respectfully authentic

As
you dive into Heart First, you’ll read Q&As with fascinating
insights and practical advice from many business leaders, presented in a style
as if you were sitting with your favored mentor over a cup of coffee.

Leaders
and Change Makers featured in the book include:

Tamer
Abuaita, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain, SC Johnson
Paula
Angelo, Vice President, Internal and CEO Communications, The Hartford
Nadeen
Ayala, Chief Communications Office, ABM Industries
Liru
Chan, Head of Marketing, Visa Singapore
Adam
Collins, Chief Communications & Corporate Affairs Office, Molson Coors
Sherri
Dublin, Vice President DE&I, Culture, Engagement and Communications,
Ingredion
Lisa
Keltner, Senior Director, Inclusion and Diversity, Baxter
Erin
Loverher, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Walgreens
Ken
Meyers, Former CHRO, Hillrom
Triona
Schmelter, Chief Transformation Officer, TreeHouse Foods
Stephen
Smith, Chairmen, President and CEO of Amsted Industries
Matt
Snow, CEO, DHG
Victor Swint, CEO, Tecomet
And
many others

One of my sections of the book is where Grossman
teaches how best to select the right channel to communicate most effectively
with your employees. He provides expert advice for communicating via:

Face-to-face meetings
Video conference calls
Traditional conference calls
Town halls
Podcasts
Written communication
Email
Text messages
Voice mail
Blogs
Internal social media
Intranet
Employee surveys
Infographics
Notice boards
Videos
Your CEO
Employee ambassadors
Front-line managers

David Grossman

Today, Grossman shares these insights with us:

Question: What has the reader reaction
been to the book since it was published this past summer?

Grossman: I’ve been
incredibly humbled by the book’s overwhelmingly positive reception. While
the book contains proven strategies, tips, tools, and time-savers to
communicate with heart, not surprisingly, it’s the stories that are resonating
most. These are real people opening up about their emotional journeys and how
they managed to lead with humanity during these unprecedented times for
business and society.

If a
leader is committed to lifting others up and making the workplace better, we
have a special opportunity for them to get the book at no cost (really!) for a
limited time. That’s why
we started our Great
Giveback Giveaway, where
you can GET a complimentary copy of the book during this season of giving, and
then GIVE a copy to someone who’s had a positive impact on your career. Since
we started, we’ve given away almost 3,400 copies to amazing
trailblazers looking to learn and grow, and there’s still time to participate
by using this link.

Question: Why do you believe readers
have reacted that way to your book?

Grossman: Many leaders
shared that this moment is causing them to rethink how they lead and find new
ways to connect with their teams, understand their needs, and inspire them to
work together to make change. The insights they were generous to share will
help all leaders find their playbook for leading in this dynamic time for
business.

Question: Your books are always so
beautifully designed and illustrated. What made you decide to use that approach
for your books?

Grossman: Leaders
are busy. We wanted Heart First to stand out as an easily accessible
book that invites leaders in and where leader can choose their own way to
access the tips, tools, and time-savers. Everything is in bite-sized pieces
with an emphasis on ways to be even better. That said, leaders could read the
book cover-to-cover. They could focus solely on a chapter of special interest
such as “Lead Yourself First,” “Show Your Human Side,” or “Be Respectfully
Authentic.” They could read a spread with one of our proven methodologies to
know how to better communicate change or learn “8 steps to active listening.”

Question: What makes you most proud
about Heart First?

Grossman: Heart
First is so much more than a book. It’s a philosophy that’s the
key to effective leadership for this new reality: leading with empathy,
authenticity, and most importantly, with heart. My passion and purpose are
about engaging employees and helping leaders lead with heart, and I’m humbled
by the response of so many leaders who are committed to lifting others up, and
know – in their hearts – that they can and will do better.

Question:
What is your biggest takeaway from all the Q&A's and Change Maker insights
featured in the book?

Grossman: What stands out
for me is the new level of empathy and humanity I see leaders looking to fold
into their leadership. The pandemic and racial unrest of the past year forced a
reckoning of sorts, and many leaders expressed the need to look inside
themselves and reflect on how they might better connect with their employees in
a personal and authentic way. Whereas before leaders were concerned about
showing their personal side out of fear of being seen as weak or vulnerable,
they are now seeing that kind of authenticity as a strength.

I was
continually inspired by the concrete actions that leaders took to lead and
communicate with heart, helping carry forward their teams in tough times as
well as the calmer ones. Sometimes the simple act of acknowledging how
challenging a moment is – and then finding ways to better support employees
during a chaotic time – goes a long way toward building a connection and a
shared sense of purpose for a team.