About the Author

Book Review

Seminars

In Perspectives on Leadership, G.W. Fairholm said, “Understanding the role and function of leadership is the single most important intellectual task of this generation, and leading is the most needed skill.” This understanding and skill, however, often goes untaught in our high schools and universities. Students at all levels are yearning for educational materials on leadership that help them make a difference in their classrooms, communities, and careers.

Surprisingly, though, there has never been a service-oriented leadership book written expressly for students.  Most leadership texts are written for managers in large corporate environments, missing the realities and needs of our students. Further, leadership books and programs often only teach theories and skills related to teamwork, motivation, persuasive speaking, conflict management, personal development, and organizational theory without ever presenting a unified leadership framework. Students often walk away from these texts and programs and say, “What now?” Many ask, “What do I actually need to do to lead others?”

Certainly the answer requires more than a hodgepodge of theories on running meetings and motivating people. Leadership is indeed a process, and students need to understand what goes into that process.

Finally, a book has written to help them understand just that.

The Center for Leadership Development at the University of Montana has released an insightful and inspiring book for students called The Student Leadership Guide (2006). The book is written from both theoretical and practical viewpoints so that students can conceptually understand leadership and confidently practice it. Brendon Burchard, a leadership development consultant and founder of The College Success Bootcamp, is the author.

Burchard describes principles that help readers understand that leadership is a collective endeavor, different from management, and firmly rooted in service. The principles—most notably that leadership is based on service to others—lay the groundwork for a leadership definition and approach that is nothing short of intelligent, holistic, and empowering.

The book’s leadership framework, called E6, represents six practices required to enact leadership. Each “E” is addressed in a different chapter—Envision, Enlist, Embody, Empower, Evaluate, and Encourage. Every chapter has theoretical lessons, actionable steps, and a vast array of questions that help readers define and practice leadership on their own terms.

In the Envision chapter, readers learn how to create a compelling vision for themselves and those they lead. Burchard offers excellent, penetrating questions that make the visioning process simple and effective. The next chapter, Enlist, teaches leaders to engage potential collaborators and to work with them to create a vision that reflects mutual purposes. (Burchard uses the term “collaborator” instead of “follower”). The chapter also teaches leaders how to express their vision in clear, persuasive terms. In Embody, Burchard does something exemplary by guiding readers to “walk their talk” and to lead with a genuine focus on becoming a role model for others. The complex idea of empowering collaborators to lead and serve is dealt with in Empower. The book shines here. Readers learn a step-by-step process for working with their collaborators and granting them decision-making authority and trust. The next chapter, Evaluate, displays Burchard’s expertise in explaining complex issues like ethics and performance-based feedback. Finally, Encourage is a beaming example of what the best leadership texts do: it helps us understand how to lift those around us, sustain hope, and keep our own emotions in check as we seek higher states of motivation and morality.

If a book has ever been written which could inspire students to assume leadership roles and behaviors, The Student Leadership Guide is it. Every reader walks away with a deep understanding of the often murky term “leadership” and a clear process for enacting it. The Student Leadership Guide is destined to become the #1 resource for students and graduates across the country because of its engaging, theory-backed, real-world content. The book is available to the public on Amazon.com.

HOW CAN I ORDER THE BOOK?

To order individual copies of The Student Leadership Guide, click here.

To make a bulk purchase for your student group or university program, email staff@TheStudentLeadershipGuide.com or call 1-800-816-8528.