Our previous book was titled Leadership for Engineers: The Magic of Mindset. This book expands on that work to help readers reflect on their experiences, identify their own leadership qualities and effectively apply their knowledge and skills.
This book is based on years of research and interviews with authentic leaders. It is intended to help readers become the kind of leaders we follow, respect, and seek to emulate and learn from throughout their distinguished careers. It includes:
- A discussion of leadership education. Education and professional practice have developed engineers into a sound professional group, but few have learned leadership principles through formal education, or are prepared to develop the skills and attitudes necessary to be good and authentic leaders.
- A redefinition of leadership. We have seen phenomenal growth in two decades of discovery. Working adult students are challenging themselves after graduation to go further with their leadership practices. For them, leadership is not about position or authority but serving and engaging with others.
- Opportunities for introspection and discovery. The Authentic Leadership Invitation asks readers to learn about the perspectives and experiences of these emerging leaders, and use these inspirational stories in their own process of self-discovery, creating their own vision of effective leadership.
- Real-life examples. Interviews with authentic leaders in diverse fields, and one author’s own history, give readers a bigger picture—illustrating the transformation from individual contributor to more. It shows readers that their experiences can lead them, if they take the time to reflect, to greater understanding.