The Inner Work of Leaders: Leadership as a Habit of Mind

AORN Journal, Sept, 2004 by Melisa A. Gantt

The Inner Work of Leaders: Leadership as a Habit of Mind

Barbara Mackoff and Gary Wenet 2000, 240 pp $24.95 hardcover

This book can be summed up by one profound statement: leadership is developed from within. It is a must-read for organizational leaders or those who have the desire to be. According to the authors, there is no script for being a great leader. Leadership is not a role or a set of strategies; it is a point of view. This book is not a "how-to" book on becoming a leader, but it provides a great opportunity to study and learn from the examples of successful leaders.

The book is divided into two parts. For part one, "The legacy of leaders," the authors interviewed 65 leaders from a variety of venues, including a tribal leader, a Broadway producer, the president of a baseball team, an inner-city school principal, and a US senator, to name a few. From these interviews, the authors draw the conclusion that family, the world at large, and life-changing events shape who people are and why they choose to lead the way they do.

Part two, "Habits of mind: The resources to inform and invigorate leadership," covers five distinct mental habits possessed by many of the leaders interviewed. These habits include

* reflecting on vital lessons learned from experiences,

* interpreting challenges in a positive mind set,

* understanding the people they lead,

* making day-to-day decisions based on their values, and

* using their actions as a source of inner strength.

This book has no charts or diagrams, but it is written in short sections, which provides opportunities for readers to pause and reflect. The three appendices that close the book include the authors' notes, a list of the leaders interviewed, and the actual interview questions that readers can use to perform a self-assessment to determine what motivates their leadership style. The interview questions also could be used as a tool for assessing the foundation and readiness of potential leaders.

This practical, inspirational book allows readers to see that they already have within them everything they need to be great leaders. It also brings readers to the realization that many things they would least expect to actually affect how they lead people.

This book is available from AMACOM, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

MELISA A. GANTT

RN, MSN, CNOR, CLNC, MAJ, AN, USA

CLINICAL COORDINATOR

MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, FT LEWIS

TACOMA, WASH