You've probably already guessed that this is no typical book on how to become a leader. There's the square shape, for one thing. Then there's the alphabetized format to consider. But the main thing that sets this book apart is its content: Instead of focusing on who leaders are-their character, style, charisma, et cetera-its focus is on what leaders do. Why? Because it is highly unlikely that you can become someone you aren't, yet it's quite likely that you can learn from what others have already done.

As the title implies, Leadership A to Z covers all the basics. It captures the essence of what anyone in a leadership position needs to know in order to create a high-performing, self-renewing organization. And it does so in a rather unique way. Want to learn about delegation? Vision? When and how to make and break rules? Strategy? Well, just turn to the table of contents and find the subject in which you're interested. Ninety-one essential topics are arranged alphabetically for ease of reference. What's more, each is covered in pithy, one- to two-page sections you can digest over coffee, between meetings, whenever you have a few moments to spare.Author James O'Toole invests each topic with humor and insight. His approach is light-hearted, his style wonderfully readable. But the lessons he delivers cut to the quick of effective leadership.

A master of leadership education and coaching for nearly thirty years, O'Toole's advice stems from his own professional experiences, the experiences of the many outstanding leaders he has known, and upon research conducted by the world's top business scholars.Primer, reference, and handbook all in one, Leadership A to Z is the ideal guide for individuals looking to quickly build or improve their leadership skills and for organizations looking to increase leadership capacity throughout their ranks. Think of it as a leadership coach in book form whose only learning prerequisite, as author O'Toole points out, is a disposition to.