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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Leader Lab summary
Tania Luna and LeeAnn Renninger
Core Skills to Become a Great Manager, Faster
21 mins
Brief summary
"The Leader Lab" by Tania Luna and LeeAnn Renninger is a practical guide on how to become a more effective leader by developing essential skills and mindsets through experimentation, curiosity, and humility.
Table of Contents
The Leader Lab
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Anyone can become a great manager quickly by focusing on specific techniques and skills.
Let’s say you’re an average manager – not the best, but not the worst either. One morning, you call in sick. You tell your team you won’t be in. When they get the notification, how do you think they feel? What are they thinking?
Well, we hate to break it to you, but . . . they’re probably relieved. According to a study, 88 percent of people are relieved when their manager is off for the day. Most people just don’t think much of their boss.
Poor management has a cost – an estimated $7 trillion a year across the world, due to inefficiency and staff turnover. It also takes a toll on employees’ mental and even physical health.
Maybe that’s something you’ve experienced firsthand with your own manager. If you’ve ever had a bad manager, you know how it feels – that sense of dread when you arrive at the office.
Put simply, management matters. We need better managers.
The authors, Tania Luna and LeeAnn Renninger, are experts on management and leadership. Through their organization LifeLabs Learning, they’ve trained thousands of leaders at companies across the world. And through painstaking research, they’ve identified some key behaviors and skills – the tell-tale signs of a good manager.
These aren’t necessarily innate qualities. They’re things that anyone can learn and develop. And while it’s true that you can learn on the job, why wait? Start now. By the end of this Blink, you’ll have picked up some simple, practical tips for improving your management style.
We can’t cover all of the skills and behaviors in the book, but we’ll focus on the most important ones. They’re easy to learn, and you can start using them right away.
In order to make the most of this crash course, we recommend a bit of self-reflection along the way. With every example or scenario, ask yourself, Do I do this? or, How could I do this differently? After all, becoming a better manager is an active process. So listen actively.
Also, for even faster learning, share what you learn with someone else. There’s a phenomenon known as the protégé effect – we learn faster when we’re teaching. So in between chapters, you could pause, and share your newfound wisdom with your manager or a coworker. You can even tell your cat.
Now, get ready to read and learn – you and your cat.
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What is The Leader Lab about?
The Leader Lab (2021) is a handbook for anyone who wants to improve their management skills fast. Through extensive research, and training more than 200,000 managers, the authors have identified the core behaviors and skills that all great managers share. They offer simple, practical tips, and methods that can be applied for rapid results.
The Leader Lab Review
The Leader Lab (2021) explores the science of leadership and offers practical strategies for becoming an effective leader in any field. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with insightful research and real-life examples, it provides valuable guidance for improving leadership skills and achieving professional success.
- Written by experts Tania Luna and LeeAnn Renninger, the book offers a unique blend of expertise and relatability, making it accessible to readers from all walks of life.
- With its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking ideas, the book elevates leadership discussions, ensuring readers are never bored and always motivated to learn more.
Who should read The Leader Lab?
- New managers lacking in confidence
- Leaders keen to improve their skills
- Anyone who wants to communicate more effectively in the workplace
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The Leader Lab FAQs
What is the main message of The Leader Lab?
The main message of The Leader Lab is to develop leadership skills through experimentation and learning from failure.
How long does it take to read The Leader Lab?
The reading time for The Leader Lab varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Leader Lab a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Leader Lab is worth reading for its practical guidance on becoming an effective leader. It provides actionable strategies for personal and professional growth.
Who is the author of The Leader Lab?
The authors of The Leader Lab are Tania Luna and LeeAnn Renninger.
What to read after The Leader Lab?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Leader Lab, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee
- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- Decisive by Chip and Dan Heath
- Standout 2.0 by Marcus Buckingham
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
- Simple Truths of Leadership Playbook by Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley