Author: Barbara Kellerman
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062069179
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 219
Book Description
From one of the pioneers in the field of leadership studies comes a provocative reassessment of how people lead in the digital age: in The End of Leadership, Barbara Kellerman reveals a new way of thinking about leadership—and followership—in the twenty-first century. Building off of the strengths and insights of her work as a scholar and a teacher, Kellerman critically reexamines our most strongly-held assumptions about the role of leadership in driving success. Revealing which of our beliefs have become dangerously out-of-date thanks to advances in social media culture, she also calls into question the value of the so-called “leadership industry” itself. Asking whether leadership can truly be taught, Kellerman forces us to think critically and expansively about how to thrive as leaders in a global information age.
The End of Leadership
Author: Barbara Kellerman
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062069179
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 219
Book Description
From one of the pioneers in the field of leadership studies comes a provocative reassessment of how people lead in the digital age: in The End of Leadership, Barbara Kellerman reveals a new way of thinking about leadership—and followership—in the twenty-first century. Building off of the strengths and insights of her work as a scholar and a teacher, Kellerman critically reexamines our most strongly-held assumptions about the role of leadership in driving success. Revealing which of our beliefs have become dangerously out-of-date thanks to advances in social media culture, she also calls into question the value of the so-called “leadership industry” itself. Asking whether leadership can truly be taught, Kellerman forces us to think critically and expansively about how to thrive as leaders in a global information age.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062069179
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 219
Book Description
From one of the pioneers in the field of leadership studies comes a provocative reassessment of how people lead in the digital age: in The End of Leadership, Barbara Kellerman reveals a new way of thinking about leadership—and followership—in the twenty-first century. Building off of the strengths and insights of her work as a scholar and a teacher, Kellerman critically reexamines our most strongly-held assumptions about the role of leadership in driving success. Revealing which of our beliefs have become dangerously out-of-date thanks to advances in social media culture, she also calls into question the value of the so-called “leadership industry” itself. Asking whether leadership can truly be taught, Kellerman forces us to think critically and expansively about how to thrive as leaders in a global information age.
The End of Leadership
Author: Barbara Kellerman
Publisher: HarperBusiness
ISBN: 9780062069160
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
One of our foremost leadership experts dismantles obsolete assumptions and stimulates a new conversation about leadership in the twenty-first century. Becoming a leader has become a mantra. The explosive growth of the "leadership industry" is based on the belief that leading is a path to power and money, a medium for achievement, and a mechanism for creating change. But there are other, parallel truths: that leaders of every stripe are in disrepute; that the tireless and often superficial teaching of leadership has brought us no closer to nirvana; and that followers nearly everywhere have become, on the one hand, disappointed and disillusioned, and, on the other, entitled and emboldened. The End of Leadership tells two tales. The first is about change—about how and why leadership and followership have changed over time, especially in the last forty years. As a result of cultural evolution and technological revolution, the balance of power between leaders and followers has shifted—with leaders becoming weaker and followers stronger. The second narrative is about the leadership industry itself. In this provocative and critical volume, Barbara Kellerman raises questions about leadership as both a scholarly pursuit and a set of practical skills: Does the industry do what it claims to do—grow leaders? Does the research justify the undertaking? Do we adequately measure the results of our efforts? Are leaders as all-important as we think they are? What about followers? Isn't teaching good followership as important now as teaching good leadership? Finally, Kellerman asks: Given the precipitous decline of leaders in the estimation of their followers, are there alternatives to the existing models—ways of teaching leadership that take into account the vicissitudes of the twenty-first century? The End of Leadership takes on all these questions and then some—making it necessary reading for business, political, and community leaders alike.
Publisher: HarperBusiness
ISBN: 9780062069160
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
One of our foremost leadership experts dismantles obsolete assumptions and stimulates a new conversation about leadership in the twenty-first century. Becoming a leader has become a mantra. The explosive growth of the "leadership industry" is based on the belief that leading is a path to power and money, a medium for achievement, and a mechanism for creating change. But there are other, parallel truths: that leaders of every stripe are in disrepute; that the tireless and often superficial teaching of leadership has brought us no closer to nirvana; and that followers nearly everywhere have become, on the one hand, disappointed and disillusioned, and, on the other, entitled and emboldened. The End of Leadership tells two tales. The first is about change—about how and why leadership and followership have changed over time, especially in the last forty years. As a result of cultural evolution and technological revolution, the balance of power between leaders and followers has shifted—with leaders becoming weaker and followers stronger. The second narrative is about the leadership industry itself. In this provocative and critical volume, Barbara Kellerman raises questions about leadership as both a scholarly pursuit and a set of practical skills: Does the industry do what it claims to do—grow leaders? Does the research justify the undertaking? Do we adequately measure the results of our efforts? Are leaders as all-important as we think they are? What about followers? Isn't teaching good followership as important now as teaching good leadership? Finally, Kellerman asks: Given the precipitous decline of leaders in the estimation of their followers, are there alternatives to the existing models—ways of teaching leadership that take into account the vicissitudes of the twenty-first century? The End of Leadership takes on all these questions and then some—making it necessary reading for business, political, and community leaders alike.
Bad Leadership
Author: Barbara Kellerman
Publisher: Harvard Business Press
ISBN: 1422163237
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 301
Book Description
How is Saddam Hussein like Tony Blair? Or Kenneth Lay like Lou Gerstner? Answer: They are, or were, leaders. Many would argue that tyrants, corrupt CEOs, and other abusers of power and authority are not leaders at all--at least not as the word is currently used. But, according to Barbara Kellerman, this assumption is dangerously naive. A provocative departure from conventional thinking, Bad Leadership compels us to see leadership in its entirety. Kellerman argues that the dark side of leadership--from rigidity and callousness to corruption and cruelty--is not an aberration. Rather, bad leadership is as ubiquitous as it is insidious--and so must be more carefully examined and better understood. Drawing on high-profile, contemporary examples--from Mary Meeker to David Koresh, Bill Clinton to Radovan Karadzic, Al Dunlap to Leona Helmsley--Kellerman explores seven primary types of bad leadership and dissects why and how leaders cross the line from good to bad. The book also illuminates the critical role of followers, revealing how they collaborate with, and sometimes even cause, bad leadership. Daring and counterintuitive, Bad Leadership makes clear that we need to face the dark side to become better leaders and followers ourselves. Barbara Kellerman is research director of the Center for Public Leadership and a lecturer in public policy at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Publisher: Harvard Business Press
ISBN: 1422163237
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 301
Book Description
How is Saddam Hussein like Tony Blair? Or Kenneth Lay like Lou Gerstner? Answer: They are, or were, leaders. Many would argue that tyrants, corrupt CEOs, and other abusers of power and authority are not leaders at all--at least not as the word is currently used. But, according to Barbara Kellerman, this assumption is dangerously naive. A provocative departure from conventional thinking, Bad Leadership compels us to see leadership in its entirety. Kellerman argues that the dark side of leadership--from rigidity and callousness to corruption and cruelty--is not an aberration. Rather, bad leadership is as ubiquitous as it is insidious--and so must be more carefully examined and better understood. Drawing on high-profile, contemporary examples--from Mary Meeker to David Koresh, Bill Clinton to Radovan Karadzic, Al Dunlap to Leona Helmsley--Kellerman explores seven primary types of bad leadership and dissects why and how leaders cross the line from good to bad. The book also illuminates the critical role of followers, revealing how they collaborate with, and sometimes even cause, bad leadership. Daring and counterintuitive, Bad Leadership makes clear that we need to face the dark side to become better leaders and followers ourselves. Barbara Kellerman is research director of the Center for Public Leadership and a lecturer in public policy at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Leadership on the Line, With a New Preface
Author: Ronald Heifetz
Publisher: Harvard Business Press
ISBN: 1633692841
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 335
Book Description
The dangerous work of leading change--somebody has to do it. Will you put yourself on the line? To lead is to live dangerously. It's romantic and exciting to think of leadership as all inspiration, decisive action, and rich rewards, but leading requires taking risks that can jeopardize your career and your personal life. It requires putting yourself on the line, disrupting the status quo, and surfacing hidden conflict. And when people resist and push back, there's a strong temptation to play it safe. Those who choose to lead plunge in, take the risks, and sometimes get burned. But it doesn't have to be that way say renowned leadership experts Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky. In Leadership on the Line, they show how it's possible to make a difference without getting "taken out" or pushed aside. They present everyday tools that give equal weight to the dangerous work of leading change and the critical importance of personal survival. Through vivid stories from all walks of life, the authors present straightforward strategies for navigating the perilous straits of leadership. Whether you're a parent or a politician, a CEO or a community activist, this practical book shows how you can exercise leadership and survive and thrive to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Publisher: Harvard Business Press
ISBN: 1633692841
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 335
Book Description
The dangerous work of leading change--somebody has to do it. Will you put yourself on the line? To lead is to live dangerously. It's romantic and exciting to think of leadership as all inspiration, decisive action, and rich rewards, but leading requires taking risks that can jeopardize your career and your personal life. It requires putting yourself on the line, disrupting the status quo, and surfacing hidden conflict. And when people resist and push back, there's a strong temptation to play it safe. Those who choose to lead plunge in, take the risks, and sometimes get burned. But it doesn't have to be that way say renowned leadership experts Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky. In Leadership on the Line, they show how it's possible to make a difference without getting "taken out" or pushed aside. They present everyday tools that give equal weight to the dangerous work of leading change and the critical importance of personal survival. Through vivid stories from all walks of life, the authors present straightforward strategies for navigating the perilous straits of leadership. Whether you're a parent or a politician, a CEO or a community activist, this practical book shows how you can exercise leadership and survive and thrive to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Simple Truths of Leadership
Author: Ken Blanchard
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN: 1523000643
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 185
Book Description
Leadership legend and bestselling author Ken Blanchard and trust expert and thought leader Randy Conley present this carefully curated collection of fifty-two essential leadership principles that are easy to implement and practice. Effective leadership is an influence process where leaders implement everyday, commonsense approaches that help people and organizations thrive. Yet somehow, many of these fundamental principles are still missing from most workplaces. In Simple Truths of Leadership, legendary servant leadership expert Ken Blanchard, whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide, and his colleague Randy Conley, known and recognized for his many years of thought leadership and expertise in the field of trust, share fifty-two Simple Truths about leadership that will help leaders everywhere make commonsense leadership common practice. Readers will discover profound, memorable, and in some cases counterintuitive leadership wisdom such as • Who should make the first move to extend trust • What role a successful apology plays in building trust • When to use different strokes (leadership styles) for different folks—and for the same folks • Where the most important part of leadership happens • How to create autonomy through boundaries • Why the key to developing people is catching them doing something right A fun, easy read that will make a positive difference in leadership and organizational success, Simple Truths of Leadership will show readers how to incorporate simple but essential practices into their leadership style, build trust through servant leadership, and enhance their own lives and the lives of everyone around them.
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN: 1523000643
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 185
Book Description
Leadership legend and bestselling author Ken Blanchard and trust expert and thought leader Randy Conley present this carefully curated collection of fifty-two essential leadership principles that are easy to implement and practice. Effective leadership is an influence process where leaders implement everyday, commonsense approaches that help people and organizations thrive. Yet somehow, many of these fundamental principles are still missing from most workplaces. In Simple Truths of Leadership, legendary servant leadership expert Ken Blanchard, whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide, and his colleague Randy Conley, known and recognized for his many years of thought leadership and expertise in the field of trust, share fifty-two Simple Truths about leadership that will help leaders everywhere make commonsense leadership common practice. Readers will discover profound, memorable, and in some cases counterintuitive leadership wisdom such as • Who should make the first move to extend trust • What role a successful apology plays in building trust • When to use different strokes (leadership styles) for different folks—and for the same folks • Where the most important part of leadership happens • How to create autonomy through boundaries • Why the key to developing people is catching them doing something right A fun, easy read that will make a positive difference in leadership and organizational success, Simple Truths of Leadership will show readers how to incorporate simple but essential practices into their leadership style, build trust through servant leadership, and enhance their own lives and the lives of everyone around them.
The Little Book of Leadership Development
Author: Scott J. ALLEN
Publisher: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn
ISBN: 081441754X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
Great things come in little packages: 50 commonsense (but rarely common) ideas for building the leadership potential of others.How many managers have time to plow through big books of leadership development? None! And they'll never need to with this slender book of 50 simple yet powerful ideas. The Little Book of Leadership Development goes straight to the heart of great leadership. Free of complicated theories, it focuses on what really works to get people motivated, working effectively, and acting as leaders themselves. The book delivers streamlined instructions on modeling behaviors, sharing information, building accountability, stretching teams, providing feedback, and 45 other practical strategies. Readers will be able to design a system of development tailored to their team and organization. Managers with the ability to self-reflect and a willingness to implement these positive, powerful ideas will see quick improvementsùin communication, efficiency, morale, and every other measure that points to a committed team of emerging leaders.
Publisher: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn
ISBN: 081441754X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
Great things come in little packages: 50 commonsense (but rarely common) ideas for building the leadership potential of others.How many managers have time to plow through big books of leadership development? None! And they'll never need to with this slender book of 50 simple yet powerful ideas. The Little Book of Leadership Development goes straight to the heart of great leadership. Free of complicated theories, it focuses on what really works to get people motivated, working effectively, and acting as leaders themselves. The book delivers streamlined instructions on modeling behaviors, sharing information, building accountability, stretching teams, providing feedback, and 45 other practical strategies. Readers will be able to design a system of development tailored to their team and organization. Managers with the ability to self-reflect and a willingness to implement these positive, powerful ideas will see quick improvementsùin communication, efficiency, morale, and every other measure that points to a committed team of emerging leaders.
The Book of Leadership
Author: Anthony Gell
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 0349403414
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 207
Book Description
'Full of seriously good leadership wisdom - a must read for those who aspire to greatness' Richard Koch, bestselling author of The 80/20 Principle 'One of the most stimulating books to read on leadership' Philip Kotler, Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management 'Loaded with practical, thought-provoking ideas on leadership that can profoundly affect your life' Brian Tracy, bestselling author of How the Best Leaders Lead and Eat That Frog! Have you ever wondered what characteristics are shared by successful business leaders? Have you ever asked yourself what it is that they do differently which makes them and their organisations stand out from the crowd? And what can you learn from them to ensure your own success? If so, The Book of Leadership is for you. Over the last six years, Anthony Gell has conducted interviews with some of the most successful CEOs, entrepreneurs and business thinkers in the world, including Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco, Richard Reed, founder of innocent drinks, Olaf Swantee, CEO of EE and Daniel Goleman, author of the bestselling Emotional Intelligence. Now for the first time, he is bringing together hours of exclusive interview footage into a single resource for anybody looking to improve their leadership skills. In The Book of Leadership he combines his own experiences as a CEO with those of the leaders he has interviewed to provide insights and advice in three core areas: * Part 1 looks at leaders as individuals and reveals the personal habits and attributes that have laid the foundations for their success. * Part 2 focuses on what it takes to build and motivate a world class team * Part 3 goes beyond team leadership to identify how the habits of effective leadership are carried through on a larger scale in organisations.
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 0349403414
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 207
Book Description
'Full of seriously good leadership wisdom - a must read for those who aspire to greatness' Richard Koch, bestselling author of The 80/20 Principle 'One of the most stimulating books to read on leadership' Philip Kotler, Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management 'Loaded with practical, thought-provoking ideas on leadership that can profoundly affect your life' Brian Tracy, bestselling author of How the Best Leaders Lead and Eat That Frog! Have you ever wondered what characteristics are shared by successful business leaders? Have you ever asked yourself what it is that they do differently which makes them and their organisations stand out from the crowd? And what can you learn from them to ensure your own success? If so, The Book of Leadership is for you. Over the last six years, Anthony Gell has conducted interviews with some of the most successful CEOs, entrepreneurs and business thinkers in the world, including Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco, Richard Reed, founder of innocent drinks, Olaf Swantee, CEO of EE and Daniel Goleman, author of the bestselling Emotional Intelligence. Now for the first time, he is bringing together hours of exclusive interview footage into a single resource for anybody looking to improve their leadership skills. In The Book of Leadership he combines his own experiences as a CEO with those of the leaders he has interviewed to provide insights and advice in three core areas: * Part 1 looks at leaders as individuals and reveals the personal habits and attributes that have laid the foundations for their success. * Part 2 focuses on what it takes to build and motivate a world class team * Part 3 goes beyond team leadership to identify how the habits of effective leadership are carried through on a larger scale in organisations.
Leverage Leadership
Author: Paul Bambrick-Santoyo
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118238923
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 417
Book Description
Paul Bambrick-Santoyo (Managing Director of Uncommon Schools) shows leaders how they can raise their schools to greatness by following a core set of principles. These seven principles, or "levers," allow for consistent, transformational, and replicable growth. With intentional focus on these areas, leaders will leverage much more learning from the same amount of time investment. Fundamentally, each of these seven levers answers the core questions of school leadership: What should an effective leader do, and how and when should they do it. Aimed at all levels of school leadership, the book is for any principal, superintendent, or educator who wants to be a transformational leader. The book includes 30 video clips of top-tier leaders in action. These videos bring great schools to you, and support a deeper understanding of both the components of success and how it looks as a whole. There are also many helpful rubrics, extensive professional development tools, calendars, and templates. Explores the core principles of effective leadership Author's charter school, North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey, received the highest possible award given by the U.S. Department of Education; the National Blue Ribbon Print version includes an instructive DVD with 30 video clips to show how it looks in real life. E-book customers: please note that details on how to access the content from the DVD may be found in the e-book Table of Contents. Please see the section: "How to Access DVD Contents" Bambrick-Santoyo has trained more than 1,800 school leaders nationwide in his work at Uncommon Schools and is a recognized expert on transforming schools to achieve extraordinary results.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118238923
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 417
Book Description
Paul Bambrick-Santoyo (Managing Director of Uncommon Schools) shows leaders how they can raise their schools to greatness by following a core set of principles. These seven principles, or "levers," allow for consistent, transformational, and replicable growth. With intentional focus on these areas, leaders will leverage much more learning from the same amount of time investment. Fundamentally, each of these seven levers answers the core questions of school leadership: What should an effective leader do, and how and when should they do it. Aimed at all levels of school leadership, the book is for any principal, superintendent, or educator who wants to be a transformational leader. The book includes 30 video clips of top-tier leaders in action. These videos bring great schools to you, and support a deeper understanding of both the components of success and how it looks as a whole. There are also many helpful rubrics, extensive professional development tools, calendars, and templates. Explores the core principles of effective leadership Author's charter school, North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey, received the highest possible award given by the U.S. Department of Education; the National Blue Ribbon Print version includes an instructive DVD with 30 video clips to show how it looks in real life. E-book customers: please note that details on how to access the content from the DVD may be found in the e-book Table of Contents. Please see the section: "How to Access DVD Contents" Bambrick-Santoyo has trained more than 1,800 school leaders nationwide in his work at Uncommon Schools and is a recognized expert on transforming schools to achieve extraordinary results.
Leadership by the Book
Author: Brent Garrison
Publisher: Elevate Publishing
ISBN: 1943425035
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 346
Book Description
"Dr. Brent Garrison has reached a pinnacle, pointing leaders to the ultimate source of inspiration where one learns to lead the pack—from the back." Jerry Jenkins Multiple New York Times Bestselling Author Christian men and women across the country experience leadership in many different ways. Some lead a congregation, youth group or ministry, some in their homes, businesses, or non-professional organizations. The lives of many followers of Christ are marked by a combination of these roles. In Leadership by the Book, Brent Garrison offers examples from each book of the Old and New Testaments of how God’s servants have led His people, and the lessons that today’s leaders can learn from them. From Moses to John, Genesis to Revelations, Garrison offers a new perspective on ancient wisdom. Insightful applications and spiritual adaptations for modern problems on every page, Leadership by the Book will help Christian leaders in their personal, spiritual and professional lives to find timeless answers to difficult questions.
Publisher: Elevate Publishing
ISBN: 1943425035
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 346
Book Description
"Dr. Brent Garrison has reached a pinnacle, pointing leaders to the ultimate source of inspiration where one learns to lead the pack—from the back." Jerry Jenkins Multiple New York Times Bestselling Author Christian men and women across the country experience leadership in many different ways. Some lead a congregation, youth group or ministry, some in their homes, businesses, or non-professional organizations. The lives of many followers of Christ are marked by a combination of these roles. In Leadership by the Book, Brent Garrison offers examples from each book of the Old and New Testaments of how God’s servants have led His people, and the lessons that today’s leaders can learn from them. From Moses to John, Genesis to Revelations, Garrison offers a new perspective on ancient wisdom. Insightful applications and spiritual adaptations for modern problems on every page, Leadership by the Book will help Christian leaders in their personal, spiritual and professional lives to find timeless answers to difficult questions.
Breakthrough Leadership
Author: Alan M. Blankstein
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1071824392
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
Now is the time for Breakthrough Leadership This book was borne out of urgency. We face the consequences of a raging pandemic, coupled with an unprecedented call to end racial injustice. COVID-19 has exposed longstanding structural inequities, while at the same time offering a rare "breakthrough" opportunity to dismantle inequitable systems that have harmed our most marginalized students for generations. Breakthrough Leadership is rooted in moral courage and calls us to act upon a new discovery, or epiphany about a fundamental truth that challenges previous beliefs. While this book offers examples of schools that were "beating the odds" pre-COVID-19 as well as strategies for changing those odds in the future. Breakthrough Leadership also spotlights professionals now leveraging crises like this to shape local and national priorities toward a more equitable and healthy society for our children in order to: Create and sustain Equitable Learning Communities (ELCs) that are grounded in relational trust Establish comprehensive systems to ensure that all students thrive Implement cutting-edge principles of effective curriculum, instruction, and assessment including culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed practice, and blended learning Meaningfully engage families and community Leadership from the classroom to the board room is needed to advance an agenda of equitable and successful outcomes for our students. The facts stakes couldn’t be starker. Good leadership saves lives both in pandemics, and in our profession. "The critical variable that determines whether or not our schools can respond adequately to the numerous challenges that they and their children face is leadership. . . This book is about the work of such leaders. In big cities, small towns, and rural areas, a small number of principals and superintendents are showing that progress can be made when leaders have the resourcefulness and courage to address equity challenges directly. The educational leaders profiled in this book have a clear sense of how to systematically build the capacity of teachers and schools to meet the needs of the students they serve. I urge other leaders to learn from them so that great schools that serve all children well, will be the norm, rather than the exception." ~Pedro Noguera "With all its devastation, COVID-19 also presents the opportunity of the century to transform the public education system that, to say the least, has become stalled and stagnant in the past 50 years. . . . Breakthrough Leadership makes a significant contribution to our next phase, which must be one of definable and targeted transformation of equity-based learning. ~Michael Fullan
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1071824392
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
Now is the time for Breakthrough Leadership This book was borne out of urgency. We face the consequences of a raging pandemic, coupled with an unprecedented call to end racial injustice. COVID-19 has exposed longstanding structural inequities, while at the same time offering a rare "breakthrough" opportunity to dismantle inequitable systems that have harmed our most marginalized students for generations. Breakthrough Leadership is rooted in moral courage and calls us to act upon a new discovery, or epiphany about a fundamental truth that challenges previous beliefs. While this book offers examples of schools that were "beating the odds" pre-COVID-19 as well as strategies for changing those odds in the future. Breakthrough Leadership also spotlights professionals now leveraging crises like this to shape local and national priorities toward a more equitable and healthy society for our children in order to: Create and sustain Equitable Learning Communities (ELCs) that are grounded in relational trust Establish comprehensive systems to ensure that all students thrive Implement cutting-edge principles of effective curriculum, instruction, and assessment including culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed practice, and blended learning Meaningfully engage families and community Leadership from the classroom to the board room is needed to advance an agenda of equitable and successful outcomes for our students. The facts stakes couldn’t be starker. Good leadership saves lives both in pandemics, and in our profession. "The critical variable that determines whether or not our schools can respond adequately to the numerous challenges that they and their children face is leadership. . . This book is about the work of such leaders. In big cities, small towns, and rural areas, a small number of principals and superintendents are showing that progress can be made when leaders have the resourcefulness and courage to address equity challenges directly. The educational leaders profiled in this book have a clear sense of how to systematically build the capacity of teachers and schools to meet the needs of the students they serve. I urge other leaders to learn from them so that great schools that serve all children well, will be the norm, rather than the exception." ~Pedro Noguera "With all its devastation, COVID-19 also presents the opportunity of the century to transform the public education system that, to say the least, has become stalled and stagnant in the past 50 years. . . . Breakthrough Leadership makes a significant contribution to our next phase, which must be one of definable and targeted transformation of equity-based learning. ~Michael Fullan