The capacity of a leader to influence the success of an organization – or to fail to achieve that organization’s goals – is widely acknowledge by observers of all types. Leadership is far more than a personal interaction . . . but it is a relationship with others in which a leader makes a significant difference – not only for organizations but for the people who work within them. The message of this book is that each individual can enhance her or his leadership capacity by developing skills and honoring duties to others that are the true heart of leadership. That message of the leader’s obligation to serve others has been demonstrated by thousands of leaders who have not only achieved outstanding organizational results but have literally blessed the lives of others as well. Leaders can also destroy personal commitment, undermine the quality of life of those with whom they work, and fail miserably in their quest to achieve important goals. In addition, leaders can achieve seemingly outstanding organizational results without honoring their obligations to the people with whom they work – and can actually destroy others’ quality of life and hamper not only others’ individual progress but the long-term course of their lives as well.
