19 challenging thoughts about leadership

People demonstrate leadership whenever they take responsibility for change in their environment, because they believe things can or must be different. Leaders have a personal story to tell. About the challenges in the real world. About their striving for higher ideals and their quest for a better future.

They question the status quo, hold themselves and others up to the mirror, take the first steps towards change and further develop themselves as an example and instrument of that change. They have impact, not based on authority, but on authenticity and engagement. Leadership is not the same as having a managerial position or exercising power.

There is no job description for a leader. Leadership is a personal choice. The more people are willing to make this choice, the more quickly teams, organizations and societies with greater leadership will develop.

This book contributes to this process by linking current scientific thinking about the complexity of leadership with a number of practical examples and personal testimonies.

The result is 19 challenging thoughts or insights about the leadership phenomenon, which will encourage people to reflect personally and critically on their attitude to leadership and inspire them to take positive action.

 “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the best leader of them all?"

Vertaling van het succesvolle De leider in de spiegel (oktober 2013, tweede druk december 2013)

About the authors :

Koen Marichal lectures and researches in leadership at the Antwerp Management School. He has a master degree in psychology and more than 20 years HRM experience in different organizations.

Jesse Segers lectures in leadership and HRM at the Antwerp Management School and is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Antwerp. He is a doctor in Applied Economic Sciences and also has a master degree in psychology.

Together they lead The Future Leadership Initiative at the Antwerp Management School, which investigates and develops the leadership of both people and organizations. You can follow their blog at www.tfli.be and via twitter @koenmarichal and @segersjesse.

“This book contains fascinating and illustrative stories about leadership. They are stories that invite you to look at your own leadership, inspire you to take initiative and challenge you to accept the adventure of responsibility.” - Prof.dr. Jaap Boonstra in the Foreword