Download a Free Chapter from Warren Bennis' New Book

Leaders are, by definition, innovators. They do things other people have not done or dare not do. They do things in advance of other people. They make new things. They make old things new. Having learned from the past, they live in the present, with one eye on the future.” – Warren Bennis, On Becoming a Leader.

Amongst Warren’s enormous collection of books, articles, and other contributions is what I believe to be the seminal piece on leadership, On Becoming a Leader. Originally published more than 20 years ago, its relevance has withstood the tests of time, and reading it has illustrated to me why all who spend time with Warren go forward with renewed motivation, new knowledge, and an invigorated spirit.

Warren is an acclaimed American scholar, author, and the world’s reigning expert on the field of leadership. He is widely regarded as the thought leader who defined what it means to be a leader. BusinessWeek has acknowledged Warren as one of the ten business school professors who had the greatest influence on business thinking in the last 50 years. This year, at the age of 85, Warren has finally created his own website, and we are thrilled to share an excerpt of his latest book, Still Surprised, A Memoir of a Life in Leadership. Please click to download the first chapter, “The Crucible of War.”

There are a limited number of seats reserved for the most senior leaders of your organization – Presidents and C-Level executives – to join Warren’s learning team inside GILD2010, the Senior Executive Leadership forum.  SEL provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance to

• Experience greatness while Warren facilitates discussions on leaders’ top challenges
• Enhance your ability to run your organization and grow your own skills
• Provide reflection and personal growth
• Interact with today’s top leadership gurus, experts, and thought leaders

Participants will spend a week with access to Warren’s insight, which four US Presidents, more than 150 CEOs, and countless other leaders and managers have clamored for over the last 50 years. Last year’s SEL group met with Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks, who recognized Warren as the person who had been the most significant in helping him to build his business. Howard recounted his best stories and the most influential lessons that he learned from Warren. And I know that Phil credits Warren with having taught him the importance of putting people first in business – he can teach you the same.

Our instructors at Fort Benning, charged with the unenviable task of turning raw material into officers, had tried to warn us how important it was to prove ourselves to those we led. It was one of countless ways they tried, at record speed, to create officers who inspired trust and, thus, might stay alive long enough to win the war. You can’t command respect, they warned us: ‘Don’t flaunt those gold bars. You have to earn them.'”– Warren Bennis, Still Surprised.

There are only a handful of slots remaining in this year’s Senior Executive Leadership forum, so I encourage you to contact Linkage at 781.402.555 or by email to inquire about registration.