MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Oct. 17, 2012) — From business to politics, people seem to be increasingly complaining about the quality of today’s leaders and leadership.
Sandra Davis, CEO and co-founder of MDA Leadership Consulting, begs to differ about current leadership excellence. “It’s not that leaders today are any more or less competent than leaders in the past,” she says. “It’s that leaders today face an unprecedented number of challenges and scrutiny — including the fact that roles or titles matter less and less.”
To provide leaders at all stages of their careers and development with practical and easy-to-implement tools to address common leadership challenges, Davis has written “Pearls of Leadership Wisdom: Lessons for Everyday Leaders” (2012: MDA Leadership Consulting). Based on Davis’ 30 years of working with a variety of leaders, the book is a powerful, easy-to-read guide that can help leader be more intentional about how they lead.
Davis explains how “Pearls of Leadership Wisdom” benefits leaders, and the title’s origin: “Often, the most profound and powerful leadership lessons begin, as with a pearl, with an irritant: initially painful and often confusing, but ultimately treasured. It’s like the saying, ‘It’s not what happens but what you do with it that matters the most. With ‘Pearls of Leadership Wisdom,’ readers will find new ways to gain the most from leadership lessons.”
Unlike many books on leadership, “Pearls of Leadership Wisdom” does not apply only to top-tier leaders. “If there’s anything I’ve learned from working with hundreds of leaders, it’s that they come in a variety of types and titles. Leaders are everywhere, not just in the corner office,” Davis says. “The common element among the best leaders is that they continuously seek to get better. They don’t just think they have arrived and say ‘that’s that.'”
Susan Marvin, president of Marvin Windows and Doors, concurs about the universality of leadership: “At Marvin Windows and Doors, all of our employees are individual leaders. That’s why Sandra’s book is so vital — it speaks to leaders of all kinds, to help them reach their leadership potential.”
“Pearls of Leadership Wisdom” is available for $17.95 through MDA Leadership at 612-332-8182 or www.mdaleadership.com.
About Sandra Davis
Sandra Davis is CEO of MDA Leadership Consulting in Minneapolis, a leadership development, talent assessment and organizational performance firm she co-founded in 1981. Davis specializes in senior executive talent evaluation, CEO selection, and succession planning and is widely known an executive coach and thought leader in the industry, counting numerous Fortune 500 firms among her clients. She is the author of the book, Reinventing Yourself: Life Planning After 50, and has contributed numerous chapters and articles in professional books and journals on topics related to assessment, leadership development, coaching and succession. She has been elected a fellow of both the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the American Psychological Association.
About MDA Leadership Consulting
Leadership matters. From the boardroom to the community to the playing field, leaders make the difference between mediocrity and excellence. MDA partners with organizations to strengthen individual, team, and organizational leadership. We help organizations identify the right talent to drive results, accelerate the development of leaders at all levels, and sharpen alignment between talent and strategy. By taking the time to understand our clients’ needs, strategies, and challenges, we help them build a competitive advantage through increased talent acumen and leadership performance. To learn more, visit www.mdaleadership.com.
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