Leadership Transformed by Dr. Peter Fuda - Book review

Leadership Transformed

How Ordinary Managers Become Extraordinary Leaders

By: Dr. Peter Fuda

Published: August 20, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0544026934
ISBN-13: 978-0544026933
Publisher: New Harvest











"So Leadership Transformed is not just about leaders who have transformed themselves and their organizations. It's about transforming the way we think about leadership: to one where the art is as important as the science", writes global authority on leadership and business transformation, management consultant, and founder of The Alignment Partnership, Peter Fuda, Ph.D., in his insightful and thought provoking book Leadership Transformed: How Ordinary Managers Become Extraordinary Leaders. The author describes his blueprint for achieving effective leadership through understanding and acting upon his seven metaphors of leadership.

Peter Fuda, Ph.D understands that there are literally countless definitions of what makes for a great leader. As a result of a decade of research and practice, the author has isolated seven themes that transform CEOs into tremendous leaders. At the same time, these seven leadership themes develop organizations into high performance firms. To help leaders better understand the seven fundamental themes of effective leadership, Dr. Fuda relied on metaphor to assist in the teaching and learning process. Mastering and internalizing the metaphors guides CEOs towards greatness as leaders.

Dr. Peter Fuda (photo left) recognizes that studying leaders how have achieved greatness and changed the very nature of their organizations is only part of the story. The author presents the concept that there must be a complete change in how we think about the very nature of leadership. This change in perspective, according Dr. Fuda, is one where leadership is considered as both an art and a science. To explore the leadership journey, both quantifiable methodology, and the use of metaphor provide the road map to understanding both the science and the art.

Peter Fuda, Ph.D offers the seven fundamental, and easily understood metaphors that outline the leadership journey as follows:

* Fire: Motivation and inspiration
* Snowball: Accountability and momentum
* Master Chef: Art of implementing leadership principles
* Coach: Helping others achieve their potential and goals
* Mask: Becoming the authentic best self
* Movie: Developing self awareness
* Russian Dolls: Alignment of the self and the organization

For me, the power of the book is how Peter Fuda combines a strong, theoretical framework in the form of the leadership metaphors, with the practical concepts to put the metaphors into action. The author demonstrates that the leadership metaphors are not discrete variables, but are interdependent and share considerable overlap. Peter Fuda presents the metaphors as the art of leadership, but also as skills that can be learned, developed and practiced by any leader.

The metaphors help guide the leader's understanding of the various roles required and expected in transforming oneself and the entire organization. Dr Fuda also considers the science side of leadership including quantifiable data to show empirically the effect of the transformational leader on the firm and the culture. The author also enhances the understanding of the principles through examples from the real world that illustrate the metaphors in action in actual leadership settings.

I highly recommend the fascinating and engaging book Leadership Transformed: How Ordinary Managers Become Extraordinary Leaders by Peter Fuda, Ph.D., to any leaders at any level within an organization seeking a clear and concise framework as a guide to better understanding the principles and role of leadership. This book is easily understood, and the concepts are readily applicable for all current and potential leaders.
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