Crucibles of Leadership

In this summary you will learn

• How challenging experiences mold people into leaders
• Why practicing leadership under the gun is more important than possessing a talent for leadership
• How to develop and use a Personal Learning Strategy

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Why you should read Crucibles of Leadership

Most great leaders are great because they’ve been through the fire. That is, they’ve performed admirably, even gallantly, during a particularly difficult experience – a searing, unforgettable crucible or test – in their past. The experience molded them and taught them about life and leadership. These leaders continue to apply the tough lessons they learned to the current obstacles they face. Robert J. Thomas has studied leadership the way a particle physicist tracks photons and neutrinos. His research indicates that experience – and even more, learning from experience – separates those who lead from those who are led. Thomas explains how you can develop your own Personal Learning Strategy to develop and enhance your leadership skills. Bringing his own leadership and research credentials to bear, he explains how you can teach yourself to become a leader. getAbstract recommends his book to executive leaders and management leaders in training.

About the Author

Robert J. Thomas is a professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also the executive director of the Accenture Institute for High Performance, a global research group with offices in Beijing, Boston, Delhi and London.