The Extraordinary Leader

Because the important topic of leadership has been explored and expounded upon ad infinitum, by a multitude of academicians, consultants, and leaders, themselves, there is no dearth of contrasting and complementary opinions, perspectives, insights, and prescriptions on the topic. However, the authors note that, "despite that extensive literature, leadership remains shrouded in mystery" specifically around the issues of whether people can be developed into leaders and, if so, how.

The Extraordinary Leader addresses both. Zenger and Folkman believe that leadership ability is more a tangible skill that can be acquired and perfected than it is a natural talent, moreover, the clues to the specific proficiencies and attitudes one needs to learn can be found inside large databases. Thus, the book is an analysis of hundreds of thousands of leadership assessments, made by leaders, their colleagues, their bosses, and their subordinates. It provides an empirical analysis of leadership, a simple and practical conceptual model of what leadership is, and a practical guide for helping leaders develop "greatness." The result is a program that promises sustainable value to any organization attempting to develop great leadership talent at every level.