In Ruthlessly Caring: And other paradoxical mindsets leaders need to be future-fit, leadership strategist Amy Walters Cohen delivers a one-of-a-kind insight into contemporary business leadership. In the book, you’ll explore how the leadership environment is being radically redefined by 12 megatrends and how five paradoxical mindsets are necessary to achieving high performance and effective decision making in this new era of business. From ambitious appreciation to political virtue, humble confidence, and responsible daring, you’ll discover how to develop and expand your leadership identity. Whilst being heavily based in research, this revolutionary approach takes a practical look at the day-to-day realities of leading in business, offering fresh insight into how to tackle tough decisions, change behaviour, and evolve habits to become future-fit and thrive in a modern environment.
The author shows you how to: - Weave together multiple, seemingly contradictory, mindsets to enhance decision making and day-to-day leadership - Adapt to the megatrends that are driving much of the change we see throughout the world - Shake up the thinking, habits, and behaviours that are holding you back from unleashing your full potential as a leader
An indispensable roadmap to leading modern organisations, Ruthlessly Caring is a must-read for c-suite executives, directors, senior managers, and aspiring business leaders who hope to perform well in their role and get the best out of themselves and the people they lead.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Megatrends that are reshaping the world
The megatrends shaping the current and future leadership context
A washing machine effect: interactions and tensions
Paradoxes are endemic in the megatrend context
Becoming future-fit: a paradoxical environment calls for a paradoxical leader
Chapter 2 - The five paradoxical mindsets of future-fit leadership
The five mindsets: high-level summary
What exactly is a paradox?
Embracing paradoxes: why bother?
What makes paradoxical thinking so difficult
Paradoxical thinking: preferences and pendulums
Unfreezing your leadership identity: old habits and current assumptions
Chapter 3 - Ruthlessly Caring
What is a ‘ruthlessly caring’ mindset?
Why embracing a ‘ruthlessly caring’ mindset matters amidst the megatrends?
Leading ruthlessly: making tough performance focused decisions
The ruthless leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Leading with care: staying compassionate no matter what
The caring leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Chapter 4 - Ambitiously Appreciative
What is an ‘ambitiously appreciative’ mindset?
Why being ambitiously appreciative matters amidst the megatrends
Leading ambitiously: the relentless drive to achieve
The ambitious leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Leading with appreciation: keeping goals and work in perspective
The appreciative leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Chapter 5 - Politically Virtuous
What is a ‘politically virtuous’ mindset?
Why a politically virtuous mindset matters amidst the megatrends
Leading politically: being savvy in the circumstances
The political leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Leading virtuously: doing ‘the right thing’ at the first opportunity
The virtuous leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Chapter 6 - Confidently Humble
What is a ‘confidently humble’ mindset?
Why confidence and humility matter amidst the megatrends
Leading confidently: trusting yourself and inspiring others to trust you
The confident leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Leading with humility: harnessing the knowledge and skills of those around you
The humble leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Chapter 7 - Responsibly Daring
What is a ‘responsibly daring’ mindset?
Why leading in a responsibly daring way matters amidst the megatrends
Leading responsibly: making a difference and safeguarding the organisation
The responsible leader continuum: how to stay on track
Leading daringly: being willing to take risks and push boundaries
The daring leadership continuum: how to stay on track
Chapter 8 - Developing and expanding your leadership identity
Why identity is important in relation to paradoxical mindsets
What identity refers to
The troublesome myth of ‘true self’
The ability to integrate multiple identities is a predictor of leadership success
Identity isn’t fixed, but continuously created, shaped, and spotlighted
Narratives: how identity is built through the stories we tell
Quick recap
Embracing all 5 mindsets: how to develop and expand your leadership identity
Concluding remarks: the challenge of being adaptably authentic
