Mastering Inner Leadership.

 
By Gilbert Fairholm 
Quorum Books, 2001, 217 pages 
Hard cover, $65.00 

Fairholm's book clearly points to the role and responsibility of the Inner Leader in relation to the top executive. His timely and relevant ideas help to close the misconception gap, which seeks to give credit to effective leadership primarily from the perspective of the top leader. In this book, effective leadership is viewed from a holistic perspective and gives recognition to aspects such as collective thinking, knowledge sharing, stewardship, accountability at all levels of leadership, and worker's participation.

This book is an inspiration to middle managers or Inner Leaders who wish to fully realize their leadership potential within a given organization. The Inner Leader serves an important role in the articulation and realization of the visions of the top leader and the organization as a whole, the facilitation of cohesiveness and integration, giving direction, empowering of less well-equipped co-workers, leading the way and changing behavior. In the words of Fairholm, "To ignore them would court professional and corporate disaster." (p.2)

The title clearly establishes the purpose of the book. Though many persons may not occupy the CEO position, the knowledge to be gained from reading this book will make other organizational leaders more empowered, effective and fulfilled. The reader is left with a revolutionary conviction of the dynamic role of the leader and a compulsion to view such a role in a different and more positive light.

Fairholm's ideas of mastering Inner Leadership are presented in seventeen chapters divided into six parts. Part One explores what leadership involves and includes "The Unique Nature of Inner Leadership," followed by "The Pivotal Role of Inner Leaders in Corporate Operations," noting that the position of the Inner Leader allows that leader to influence behavior patterns of followers. There is also a chapter on "The Spiritual Dimension of Whole-Souled Inner Leadership" coinciding with the recent increased interest in spirituality and management.

Part Two looks at values over system and features the impact of values on culture and on Inner Leadership. Other chapters deal with culture and change and inspiring followers. These chapters point to some simple and effective ways to ...