A Higher Standard of Leadership

In this summary you will learn

• How Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi demonstrated moral leadership principles during more than 50 years in public life
• Why morality is the foundation on which leadership is built
• How leaders who emphasize open communication instill trust in their employees

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Why you should read A Higher Standard of Leadership

Keshavan Nair emphasizes the need for leadership based on a fundamental moral standard, as taught and lived by Mohandus Gandhi. The Indian leader embodied a moral life centered on truth, non-violence and service to others. Nair argues that business leaders today need to follow these basic principles. He stresses that these principles - and the practices based upon them - make good business sense in the long run, as well as being crucial to the survival of society. The text combines Gandhi’s experiences with Nair’s exhortations on how to apply these principles in the workplace. However, Nair provides few examples of contemporary leaders who practice these principles. Thus, the book occasionally comes across as somewhat preachy, wishful, overly idealistic and out of touch with the everyday realities of business. Yet, getAbstract recommends it in the face of those realities as a counterbalance, as well as a good quick read that encourages thought.

About the Author

Dr. Keshavan Nair, a life-long student of Gandhi, has more than 30 years experience as a consultant on leadership development and strategic decision making. He is the author of Beyond Winning: The Handbook for the Leadership Revolution, and a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School.