The Essence of Leadership: Maintaining Emotional Independence in Situations Requiring Change

By: Jaco J. Hamman and Derek W. Anderson

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Synopsis: The world is experiencing a leadership crisis. The Essence of Leadership addresses this concern by empowering self-differentiated leadership. The authors draw on family systems thinking, foundational to family therapy, psychodynamic theory, a recognized lens on human nature, and proven process management tools. The core message explored over seven chapters is that a leader’s management of their own anxiety and the anxiety in a system has direct implications for their effectiveness in bringing change. The authors believe that leadership is mastering emotional and relational processes seeking to bring change according to clearly defined goals and ethical principles. As such, leadership is poorly defined as a cognitive-rational, economic, charismatic, democratic, data-based, or expert-driven "How to …" skill. Rather, anxiety’s flow and management greatly determine the likelihood of systemic transformation. After reading this book, leaders will be empowered with a growing understanding of the role anxiety plays in systemic change even as they are equipped to lead with less anxiety. Though the theory and practices in the book are applicable to all leaders, leadership is illustrated through numerous case studies from their extensive experience empowering leaders in both the for profit and nonprofit sectors. Callouts throughout the book, along with questions for reflection, invite the reader into deeper contemplation.