The Source of Leadership
by David M. Traversi
Published by New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
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Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame
There’s a lot of solid content and solid advice in this book for those who want specific advice on being more effective as a leader. Readers who are uncomfortable with new-age references or practices, or the inclusion of politically correct examples, such as a lesbian couple raising adopted children, should probably look for another book on leadership.
Traversi uses his life experience, both successes and failures, as well as those of others he knows personally to illustrate how his Leadership Dashboard can be used to achieve results both organizationally and personally. In each of the eight major chapters he describes a dominant driver and then shows how the driver impacts both the eleven character traits of a leader and the eight functions of a leader.
It’s interesting that he derives his character traits and functions from what he refers to as “traditional leadership” literature such as “The Leadership Challenge,” “Built to Last,” “Good to Great,” and “Servant Leadership,” and as he says in his book, “almost anything written by Peter Drucker, John Gardner, Max DePree, Warren Bennis, Margaret Wheatley, John Maxwell, and Jack Welch.” He acknowledges that all of these people provide wonderful “what’s,” but asserts that none of these people ever provided “hows”in their writings. To me that’s a stretch and a major weakness of the book. I’m sure that hundreds, if not thousands, of leaders would say that they became more effective leaders because of the teachings of these people – both what’s and hows.
The book provides examples and how tos that people can apply and be more effective. There are practical exercises that can help implement the various principles that Traversi believes are important.
I believe both the author and reader would be better served by focusing on what people can achieve by applying what this book teaches rather than making assertions about the work of others that are both difficult to prove and also cause people, who previously found value in those works, to question the value of what this book offers.
Armchair Interviews agrees.