The classic book that captures the essence of leadership like none other--expanded and updated for tomorrow's leaders, with a new introduction by the author.

Warren Bennis's formative years, in the 1930s and '40s, were characterized by severe economic hardship and a world war that showcased the extreme depths and heights to which leaders could drive their followers. Today's environment is similarly chaotic, turbulent, and uncertain. On Becoming a Leader has served for nearly fifteen years as a beacon of insight, delving into the qualities that define leadership, the people who exemplify it, and the strategies that anyone can apply to become an effective leader. This new edition features a provocative introduction on the challenges and opportunities facing leaders today, with additional updates and current references throughout.

Great reading. Is a must read if one has an interest in effective leadership. Provides great background information on leadership.
Highly recommend.

The book has been updated to fairly current times and espouses some traditional values that seem to be common sense, but are not often followed by people who try to make a buck as fast as possible by whatever means, which is what Wall Street rewards. There is some conflict between the values that are put forward here and recent and continuing behavior by nominally successful leaders in business and elsewhere, and more fundamentally how our economy works, or doesn't. I would like to believe that you can get ahead by being honest and straightforward, but am not sure. Read the book and see what you think.

In my book and audio book, Managing Thought: How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World?, I mention that my teachings represent thousands of years of wisdom from many roads -- business, psychology, neurology, biology, chemistry, physics, metaphysics, and spiritual teachings. On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis is a timeless book was of particular influence to me early in my business career. Bennis discusses how leadership requires self-awareness, self-control, clear personal goals, curiosity, and faith in an "inner voice."

Those who understand the fundamentals of leadership realize that it is an artful combination of arrogance and humility. The arrogance is needed so that you have the confidence to take the calculated risks that all leaders must take. Without confidence, leadership is impossible, because if the leader does not believe, neither will the followers. Humility is needed in enough measure so that the leader is able to encourage, listen to and properly process dissent. The modern world is so complex that no one person can come close to understanding all the nuances of policies and their consequences. Therefore, the effective leader must constantly seek out intelligent advice, whatever it may be and wherever it may lead.
In this short book, Bennis sums up much of what is wrong with the business leadership class in the United States. The primary problem is the "necessity" for short-term thinking to dominate the decision making process. Stockholders and Wall Street observers make their confidence decisions based on what happens over three months; successful long-term planning generally requires lowered achievement now with the expectation of even higher performance later.
Bennis also chastises the executives who neglect their other responsibilities to the employees and community. While some organizations can neglect the local community in order to please the broader context, most must maintain good relations with those in the immediate vicinity. This is especially true in the modern age of immediate communications, where an accurate negative comment can have global exposure in a matter of minutes. No matter what the most capable of executives may think, the success of their organization is due more to the quality of work of the employees than to the wisdom of the management class.
This is one of the best books on managerial leadership ever written, Bennis is known as an authority on leadership. From this book, it is easy to see that his wisdom is clear and his title of guru is well deserved.

I am disappointed by Warren's attitude and mindset in his introduction for this book. I was required to purchase this for a graduate level course and thus am going to read it against my better judgment. I have only read the introduction thus far, but am already very apparent of his liberal bias and distaste for the corporate world. He is very judgmental of corporate leaders and questions their worth. He mentions how they make 300 times the salary of the average worker ($30,000) and have an annual median income of around $11 million. I argue that the majority of corporate leaders are worth their value and provide more value and moral authority than most sports figures who earn similar incomes and have enjoyed a continuous lifestyle of protection from legal consequences and maintain an entitlement attitude. These are the "leaders" our children look at and try to emulate. It is obvious that Warren is envious of the leaders in corporate America that are making significantly more money than he is as they provide value to society.

Warren has been quoted in so many leadership books I have read...I find his mindset disturbing and question why any author would cite him, but for his leadership theories that may be appropriate. He is definitely a liberal democrat and believes in equality for all and maintains a distain for the wealthy. He believes that Al Gore should be president and defends the impeached Bill Clinton.

Perhaps my respect for his "leadership theories" will enhance while reading this book, but I question how an author with flawed fundamental principles can be credible in teaching others about leadership.

I provide this review to alert others to his biased stand towards wealth, capitalism, and that he perpetuates the stereotype of an academic liberal.