Applied Leadership Development

Al Bolea is the founder and architect of the Applied Leadership Seminars, the former CEO/GM of a large independent oil company in the United Arab Emirates, and a retired executive from a major international oil and gas company, as well as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership at the University of Alaska and a guest leadership lecturer at the University of Houston. Leanne Atwater is Professor of Management in the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. She has published over 50 journal articles and two books in the areas of leadership and feedback. She teaches leadership development at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She is also the current editor of The Leadership Quarterly.

There aren’t that many books that I feel that I want to go back and re-read – but this is one of them. Or if time doesn’t allow, I will at least check through all my multiple underlinings and notes in the margins.-- Emily Hutchinson, The Psychologist Al Bolea and Leanne Atwater have distilled the essence of leadership and answer questions that aspiring leaders ask. This is among the most valuable and insightful books on leadership I have seen, one that works well at the intersection of theory and practical leadership. A very worthy read.-- Governor Sean Parnell, AlaskaAl and Leanne’s experiences and teachings in Applied Leadership Development drive home the message of what we take on in our roles as leaders. Leadership is about courage, accountability and the willingness to grow and change. This book is more than a one-time read, it is a tremendous resource manual that will help you grow regardless of where you are in your leadership journey.-- Scott Knutson, Vice President, Executive Accounts, Nalco ChampionA great read on what I call ‘doing’ leadership. What sets this book apart is its focus on the way leadership characteristics that we read about, can be ‘applied’. By combining research findings with anecdotes that speak to the fine art of leadership, Leanne and Al provide a useful reference tool for going from ‘learning’ to ‘doing’ leadership.--Latha Ramchand, C. T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, USABolea and Atwater do a masterful job of blending practical experiences with cutting edge research. Their story-telling approach powerfully combines wisdom with theory into a book that reads more like a weekend novel than a leadership development guide. Suitable for corporate development as well as university classrooms, practitioners and scholars alike will find the book to be highly informative, research supported, and a pleasure to read. -- Kevin B. Lowe, University of Auckland, Fletcher Building Education Trust Chair in LeadershipThe book is a treasure trove of information that provides practical examples of, as well the theoretical bases for, leadership principles that work. This insightful book is written in a style that presents complex ideas in a highly accessible and usable manner. It is a good cover-to-cover read as well as great reference to review when specific leadership opportunities arise.-- John R. D. Stalvey, University of Alaska, Anchorage, USATrue to its title, Applied Leadership Development delivers plenty of application in the art and science of leadership. Co-author Al Bolea adds his insights from a lifetime of field experience to the tested research of co-author and leadership scholar Leanne Atwater. The resulting synergy not only bridges theory and practice but also prescribes powerful leadership behaviors, based on Bolea’s 'J-Curve' model, describing nine elements for leadership mastery.--Ken Shelton, editor/publisher of Leadership Excellence magazine, 1984-2014

• Context SettingPHASE 1: What Leaders Do Element 1: Set DirectionElement 2: Build a Team of PeopleElement 3: Create Key ProcessesElement 4: Steward StructureElement 5: Nurture BehaviorsPHASE 2: How Leaders LeadElement 6: ConversationsElement 7: Provide SupportElement 8: Set BoundariesElement 9: Space to DeliverConclusion: The Journey