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Leadership is Half the Story summary
Marc Hurwitz
Samantha Hurwitz
A Fresh Look at Followership, Leadership, and Collaboration
11 mins
Brief summary
Leadership is Half the Story by Marc and Samantha Hurwitz challenges the traditional notion of leadership, emphasizing the importance of followership and collaboration for effective teamwork. It encourages leaders to listen and learn from their team members to achieve success.
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Leadership is Half the Story
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In the modern, team-oriented workplace, social skills and adaptability are key.
It was just a few decades ago that leadership gurus like Jack Welch rose to prominence by peddling the idea that success is built on individualism, personal drive and self-reliance. But today, such a notion is almost inconceivable; the world of business has shifted and workplaces are more team-oriented than ever before.
In fact, a study conducted in 2012 found that, in the 1980s, just 20 percent of work happened in teams, compared to 80 percent in the 2010s. Thus, people entering the workforce in the twenty-first century are sometimes referred to as the “we generation.” This generation knows that working together is the best way to produce good work.
This new focus on teamwork has made interpersonal skills absolutely crucial for modern employees. People who lack such skills find it practically impossible to effectively contribute to a team. After all, if you can’t communicate well, listen to others or see beyond your own ideas, how can you contribute to a group effort?
But sociability isn’t the only necessary ingredient in the changing workplace. Agility is also invaluable. Modern firms are notorious for rapid-fire corporate restructuring, and one must be able roll with the punches.
According to a study done by the labor statisticians Hipple and Sok, the average employee stays with the same company for about 4.6 years. Jumping from job to job has become the new standard. Indeed, 51 percent of people stay at a given job for less than two years.
That’s why interpersonal agility, or the ability to adapt to new social contexts, is essential. If you’re always changing jobs, you’ll always be working with new colleagues, bosses and CEOs.
The ability to rapidly integrate yourself into a new culture is crucial.
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What is Leadership is Half the Story about?
Leadership is Half the Story (2015) presents leadership as a fluid state that people can and should move in and out of as circumstances change. By adopting such an approach, you can increase collaboration and boost success.
Leadership is Half the Story Review
Leadership is Half the Story (2015) is a thought-provoking book that challenges conventional ideas about leadership and offers a new perspective. Here's why you should give it a read:
- By combining leadership and followership roles, the book redefines what it means to be an effective leader and encourages collaboration and shared responsibility.
- With its engaging case studies and practical exercises, the book provides actionable strategies that can be applied in various professional and personal contexts.
- Emphasizing the importance of followership, the book highlights the significance of empowering and supporting followers, leading to more successful and sustainable outcomes.
Best quote from Leadership is Half the Story
If leadership is about setting goals for the team then followership is the complementary action: the pursuit of team goals.
—Marc Hurwitz and Samantha Hurwitz
Who should read Leadership is Half the Story?
- Staff and leaders in modern corporate workplaces
- Entrepreneurs and business owners
- Leaders and followers everywhere
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Leadership is Half the Story FAQs
What is the main message of Leadership is Half the Story?
The main message of Leadership is Half the Story is that effective leadership requires understanding and valuing the whole story, including followers' perspectives.
How long does it take to read Leadership is Half the Story?
Reading Leadership is Half the Story takes several hours, but the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Leadership is Half the Story a good book? Is it worth reading?
Leadership is Half the Story is worth reading because it offers a unique perspective on leadership and encourages leaders to consider the experiences and needs of their followers.
Who is the author of Leadership is Half the Story?
The authors of Leadership is Half the Story are Marc Hurwitz and Samantha Hurwitz.
What to read after Leadership is Half the Story?
If you're wondering what to read next after Leadership is Half the Story, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Conscious Leadership by John Mackey
- Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
- Mindset by Carol Dweck
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- How to Work with Complicated People by Ryan Leak
- The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill
- The Longevity Formula by Avanti Kumar-Singh
- TED Talks by Chris Anderson
- The Toyota Way by Jeffrey K. Liker
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