Harvard Leadership Expert Available for Interviews on U.S. Leadership Shortcomings

Who will be held accountable for the failures of leadership to control the US Troops behavior in Iraq, as well as the current political climate?" Or, How do we get ourselves out of Iraq?" A more productive question is, Now that the situation has changed, how can President Bush and his administration adapt to this new situation." Alan Price, author of the newly release book, READY TO LEAD (Jossey Bass, 2004), is available to talk with reporters and news directors, for print, television or radio, on what the administration can do to turn around its staggering leadership stance.

CAMBRIDGE, MA (PRWEB) May 18, 2004--INSPIRITAS and Jossey-Bass announce the publication of Ready to Lead?: A Story for Leaders and Their Mentors by Alan Price, President, INSPIRITAS and former Director, Global Leadership Initiative, Harvard Business School. The book poses the questions: Are you ready to lead? What is your vision of leadership?

These two simple, powerful, yet extraordinarily challenging questions confront Mark Gibson in Alan Prices new book, Ready to Lead? Like so many businesspeople today faced with new challenges, Gibson must discover the answers to these two crucial questions as the key to preparing himself to assume new levels of responsibility.

Indeed, the books core message is consistent with its spirit. To simply assume another persons definition of leadership is not to lead. Thus this book inspires the reader, just as we see Mark Gibson become inspired, to work through their own personal definition of leadership-and then put it into action. Leadership is revealed as situational and contextual, and as distinctly different from management.

This is a smart and thoughtful story from a rising star in leadership. You will be inspired as well as entertained!" says Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business Administration, University of Southern California, and author, Organizing Genius.

Prices inspiring and thoughtful prose engages the reader in self-examination. Ready to Lead? transforms leaders and inspires powerful action. . . a story of leading change that can apply to any industry. The book demystifies the process of leadership and serves as a 'play book for accelerating leadership development.

Ready to Lead applies to anyone in a leadership position or in the position of mentoring leaders. The book changes the paradigm of leadership development and defies the 'old mythology model...introducing a practical, empowering model for leadership.

Book Synopsis:

Little did Mark Gibson know when he went in for his annual performance review that he would be asked a question that would change his life-Are you ready to lead?" So begins READY TO LEAD: A Story for Leaders and Their Mentors (Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint; April 2004), Alan Prices compelling look at what it takes to make the leap from being a good manager to being a great leader. Mark walks out of his review with a mission-to figure out his definition of a true leader, and to live that definition in a challenge that could determine his careers future.

Patricia, Marks mentor, offers guidance in the form of questions and challenges that will help Mark look within to find what leadership means to him. Along the way he learns that, among other attributes, as a leader he must be able to:

- Visualize something new and different,

- Find meaning and purpose to compel himself and others to make this new idea a reality,

- Understand himself and what he stands for,

- Communicate and connect with other people to implement his vision,

- Organize and align people and resources toward results, and

- Focus on results and achieving the goals he has created, creating a strong system of accountability.

Throughout the course of the story, Mark struggles with what upper management describes simply as a big mess" at one of their subsidiaries, and finds that he is not only ready to lead, but on the path to being one of the great new leaders at his company.

Prices gripping business narrative is full of insights on what it means to be a leader, and lessons for both those beginning their leadership journey, and the mentors developing them. While the true test of a leader is finding his or her own unique style, the steps along the way involve finding out what leadership" means to those who have come before. READY TO LEAD? dramatizes the mentor/leader relationship in a uniquely effective way-just as the best leader leads by both example and direction, READY TO LEAD? offers concrete guidance on leading and developing leaders, as well dramatically showing the progress and impact of a transition from manager to leader. This page-turning story is an essential guide for managers ready to take the next step to leadership, and leaders looking to develop the next generation of new talent.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alan Price is President of INSPIRITAS Corporation (www.inspiritas.com), a consulting and training firm specializing in developing leadership teams capable of great vision, realistic strategy, and powerful action. Previously he was Director of the Global Leadership Initiative at Harvard Business School.

READY TO LEAD? A Story for Leaders and Their Mentors By Alan Price, Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, April 2004; Cloth, 148 pp; $22.95 US, ISBN: 0787969516.

ATTENTION REVIEWERS

Please include the following in your review: Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint books are available at your local bookstore, all major online booksellers and www.josseybass.com or by calling 800-956-7739. In Canada, call 800-567-4797.

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