"The unexamined life is not worth living." Ford and Blisko share Socrates' quote in their offering of The Root Cause Analysis of A Balanced Leader. I believe the timing is right, in our business world, for this treatise which guides the Leader through a Root Cause Analysis process designed for discovery - the discovery of the reader's Balanced Leader within. The illustrated process models Ford and Blisko have designed are both enlightening and practical. They work to highlight the need and provide methodology for a systematic discovery of where the Leader is and where the Leader wants to be. Offered in a unique presentation format, this organized study informatively walks with the Leader from start to finish. The finish? The who, what, when, where, how, and why of the reader and their leadership efforts; their approaches, their goals and their techniques, as a Leader.
The Root Cause Analysis of a Balanced Leader
By Phil Ford, Michael BliskoAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2016 Phil Ford and Michael Blisko
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-7000-6Contents
ONE – Personal Growth Model, 2,
Personal Growth Model, 4,
On or In your Game, 12,
Three Groups of People, 20,
Practice, 26,
SUCCESS MODEL, 34,
TWO – Acquired Understanding Model, 44,
THREE – Who?, 46,
Acquired Understanding Model – step one, 46,
Who are You Leading?, 48,
Who are You as You Lead?, 65,
Who they are often depends on who you are, 82,
Reflection Model, 92,
Who do you want to be as you lead?, 94,
FOUR – What?, 106,
Acquired Understanding Model – step two, 106,
What do You Lead?, 108,
What are the goals of those you lead?, 122,
What drives you?, 134,
What holds you back?, 144,
FIVE – When?, 158,
Acquired Understanding Model – step three, 158,
When are You a Leader?, 160,
When do You Lead –When do Others Lead?, 168,
SIX – Where?, 176,
Acquired Understanding Model – step four, 176,
Where is the best place to lead them?, 178,
SEVEN – How?, 184,
Acquired Understanding Model – step five, 184,
How do You Lead?, 186,
The Disconnect, 192,
EIGHT – Why?, 202,
Acquired Understanding Model – step six, 202,
Why do You Lead?, 204,
NINE – A Balanced Leader, 210,
Balanced Leader Model, 210,
Personal Growth Model, 212,
Success Model, 214,
Acquired Understanding Model, 216,
Shared Goals Model, 218,
Leader's Style Model, 220,
Reflection Model, 222,
Balanced Leader Model, 224,
About the Author, 227,
CHAPTER 1
THE RCA OF A BALANCED LEADER
Socrates: "The unexamined life is not worth living."
A Balanced Leader. A term that could mean many things.
Many years ago, I answered the questions in one of those scientific studies which was designed to help determine what category of perceived management styles I fit into. It was the one where results were placed on a graph above or below the zero axis. The facilitator explained that of the four identified points being graphed, those above the zero axis were the dominant, and those below the zero axis were present, but not dominant.
Well, all four of my points were scored on the graph above the zero axis. The facilitator said that was rare. She continued to say that tended to mean I was trying to be all things to all people at all times. She added that must be incredible stressful!
Well, welcome to Contemporary Leadership! This is where it is a natural expectation to be all things to all people at all times. You just have to determine the who, what, when, where, how and why of your current position, within your current set of circumstances. That determination will assist you in being the most effective leader you can be, at the most appropriate time, and assist those you lead in becoming the most productive people they can be.
The question is not are you a leader? The assumption for those reading or taking part in a presentation is that you are already in leadership roles. The question is rather what kind of leader are you and how can you become a better leader?
To that end, let's begin the process of examination. Socrates was quoted as saying, "The unexamined life is not worth living." One of the most critical thinkers in Earth's recorded history puts a very fine point on this issue – words are not minced;
