Kouzes, Posner & Bunting have produced a truly enjoyable and highly relevant read on leadership and engagement. Reassuringly, they demonstrate that great leadership is grounded in common sense and humanity. That is consistent with our experience at Virgin. The book benefits enormously from a wealth of real world examples. It is notable that many of the leaders whose experience is referred to are not CEOs, but rather people at all levels of a variety of different organisations who have faced the challenges inherent in successfully leading people. It is axiomatic that successful leadership results in high employee engagement. In purely commercial terms engagement creates a sustainable competitive advantage. It also acknowledges the broader role of business in the community to develop people to their fullest potential. James, Barry & Michael have produced a work in an Australasian context which identifies universal rules that will be of value to all people managers who want to take on new challenges or refresh their approach to achieve more.
--Josh Bayliss, CEO Virgin Group (Worldwide)
I have been using the Five Practices framework to develop my executive and managerial students' leadership skills, and in the past I had to make the necessary adjustments to connect those practices to the distinctive elements of leadership in the Australasian region. Happily, this new book makes those adjustments for me, offering many useful examples that connect directly to my students' experience. The framework is now even more relevant and appropriate for Australasian students and practitioners
--Arran Caza, Associate Professor of Management, Griffith Business School
I am delighted to see the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership brought to life and embedded in our historically and geographically distinctive Australasian leadership context. This classic and globally practiced approach to leadership has stood the test of time in the way that many others have not. The exemplary leaders that are liberally featured in this book provide compelling evidence of the power of this framework as it has been applied to a wide range of organisations within Australia and New Zealand. This book should become a compulsory mainstay of the leadership libraries of both emerging and established leaders from all sectors of the economy.
--Professor Brad Jackson, Head of School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Kouzes, Posner and Bunting effectively demonstrate that great leaders can be made, not born, if only they take their people on the journey with them. These five principles are compulsory reading for all prospective leaders and for those seeking more sustainable success.
--Mandy Johnson, author of Family Village Tribe and Winning the War for Talent
What an absolute delight it is to read this new take on the classic The Leadership Challenge. There is no doubt that when it comes to leadership, culture really matters, and Kouzes, Posner and Bunting have written the definitive guide for those of us in Australia and New Zealand. With fresh local examples and case studies, this is a must-read book.
--Dr David Keane, author of The Art of Deliberate Success
A remarkable piece of work for Australasian leaders! Many books on leadership set about describing strategies for leaders to implement to achieve extraordinary results. This book takes things one giant leap forward by embedding those strategies within the unique Australasian leadership context. In doing just this, Kouzes, Posner and Bunting have provided all Australasian leaders with something that has been truly lacking for some time. A must read for all Australasian leaders.
--Professor Gary Martin, CEO, Australian Institute of Management WA
This book provides essential cultural intelligence on the distinctive challenges of leadership within Australasia. Drawing on extensive experience working in the region and a wealth of original data, two of the world's leading authorities, Kouzes and Posner, along with Michale Bunting, provide fresh insight and compelling conclusions. This is storytelling at its best--direct, honest, unassuming and intensely practical--just the way Australians and New Zealanders like it.
--Martyn Newman PhD, author of Emotional Capitalists and co-author of Emotion Capital Report (ECR)
This book is valuable for leaders at all levels to understand the fundamentals of succeeding in leadership, especially in the context of Australia and New Zealand culture. I also recommend it to successful Australasian leaders making an international move, in order to gain self-awareness of what has made you successful to date, and which aspects you may need to play differently in a new culture.
--Charlotte Park, Partner and Managing Director, Mercer Singapore
This book is both a testament to exemplary leadership in Australia and New Zealand and a practical guide to improving your own leadership. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride reading all the examples of local leaders embodying The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. But we can't rest on the leadership laurels of the few. The authors challenge all of us to step up and become the CEO in our sphere of influence--with practical guidance that has stood the test of time on how to get there. It's a must read.
--Dr Michelle Pizer, Executive Coach, Organisational and Counselling Psychologist
This book is important and reminds us that leaders need to bring out the best of themselves to bring out the best in others. Too often leaders forget the real purpose of leadership and get lost in the details and data. The authors succinctly show the way for leaders to get extraordinary things done in Australasia.
--Luke Sayers, CEO PwC Australia and Vice Chairman PwC Asia
The book illustrates why leadership is so critical to the success of our organisations today. It succeeds in illustrating the 'business case' for leadership development and is a must read for anyone serious about improving their leadership culture and their bottom line results.
--Jane Sherlock, Executive General Manager--People, Leighton Contractors
At last! Stories from Aussie and Kiwi leaders for Aussie and Kiwi leaders crafted around an elengantly simpe and profound model of leadership. Kouzes, Posner and Bunting set out to guide us towards 'greater heart, greater wisdom and greater effectiveness'. They have delivered admirably.
--Dr Mark Strom, business philosopher and author of Lead with Wisdom
A great read for all leaders operating in the Australasian region. Kouzes, Posner and Bunting have brought to life The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership with examples those of us in the region can relate to. They argue persuasively that leadership matters as does the context in which it happens. Read and reflect, and your leadership will be better for it.
--Professor Chris Styles, Dean, UNSW Business School
