The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders - Brief Article - Book Review

AORN Journal, Sept, 2003 by Brenda J. Cook

Warren Blank 2001, 272 pp $24.95 hardback

This book is written for people at all organizational levels who want to become better leaders. It is written in clear, concise language and is easy to read.

The author contends that some leaders are labeled as natural only because they demonstrate the skills that cause others to follow. He suggests that anyone can be a leader if he or she takes the time and is committed to learning and developing the specific set of skills that he describes.

Blank divides leadership skills into three classifications: foundational (eg, building rapport); directional (eg, cultivating and developing other leaders); and influential (eg, attracting followers). The book also supplies a leadership assessment tool. I recommend this book for nurses who want to improve their skills as leaders.

This book is available from AMACOM, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, http://www.amanet.org/books /index.htm

BRENDA J. COOK

RN, BSN, MHA, CNOR,

CLINICAL NURSE ADMINISTRATOR

VA MEDICAL CENTER

INDIANAPOLIS, IND