From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom

From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom

by Prasad Kaipa, Navi Radjou
Released March 2013
Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9781118296202

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Book description

A fresh and timely approach to nurturing wise, resilient, and flexible leadership in a world of growing complexity

Leaders tend to obstinately stick to the leadership style that brought them most success in the past, usually one of two extreme styles: functional leadership that focuses on operational excellence or smart leadership that focuses on growth. When a leader's focus is too functional, the organization becomes introverted and can focus too much on bottom-line profitability while missing out on top-line growth opportunities. But when leaders focus too much on smart leadership, the organization may experience quick growth but lose its effectiveness quickly.

From Smart to Wise offers a new approach that balances the two styles to achieve a form of wise leadership that is both functional and smart. Drawing on inspiring real-life stories of historical and contemporary wise leaders such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and even Mahatma Gandhi, the authors identify six characteristics of wise leaders and offer a practical framework to help readers develop their own style of wise leadership.

  • A timely and innovative approach to leadership

  • Written by noted speakers who conduct dozens of keynote speeches and workshops, training thousands of people annually

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. More Praise for From Smart to Wise
  3. Title page
  4. Copyright page
  5. Dedication
  6. Preface
  7. CHAPTER ONE: Wise Leaders Wanted
    1. The Pitfalls of Smart Leadership
    2. The Functional Smart Leader and the Business Smart Leader
    3. Evolving from Smart to Wise
    4. What Is Wisdom?
    5. The Six Leadership Capabilities
    6. Becoming a Wise Leader
    7. The Path to Wise Leadership
  8. CHAPTER TWO: Shift Your Perspective: Connect to Your Noble Purpose
    1. What Is “Perspective”?
    2. The Limits of a Smart Perspective
    3. The Wise Leader’s Perspective
    4. Shifting Your Perspective
    5. Noble Purpose: It’s Your Personal North Star
    6. A Mindful Mind-set
    7. Openness Through Reframing
    8. Conclusion
  9. CHAPTER THREE: Be Aware of Your Action Orientation: Act Authentically and Appropriately
    1. Authenticity and Appropriate Action
    2. Authentic and Appropriate Action in the Age of Complexity
    3. The Limits of a Smart Action Orientation
    4. How Wise Leaders Act
    5. Bridging the Integrity Gap
    6. Conclusion
  10. CHAPTER FOUR: Gain Role Clarity: Lead from Any Position
    1. The Limits of Smart Leadership Roles
    2. How Wise Leaders Demonstrate Role Clarity
    3. Role Clarity and Becoming a Wise Leader
    4. Cultivating Role Clarity
    5. Cultivating a Beginner’s Mind
    6. Learning to Let Go
    7. Conclusion
  11. CHAPTER FIVE: Clarify Your Decision Logic: Decide with Discernment
    1. The Neurobiology and Psychology of Making Decisions
    2. Smart Versus Wise Styles of Decision Logic
    3. Deciding with Discernment
    4. Conclusion
  12. CHAPTER SIX: Develop Flexible Fortitude: Know When to Hold and When to Fold
    1. Smart Leaders Get Stuck
    2. Wise Leaders Display Flexible Fortitude
    3. Cultivating Flexible Fortitude
    4. Conclusion
  13. CHAPTER SEVEN: Discover Drivers of Your Motivation: Act with Enlightened Self-Interest
    1. Enlightened Self-Interest: The New Business Imperative
    2. Smart Leaders and Self-Interest
    3. Wise Leaders Are Driven to Serve Others
    4. Cocreating Sustainable Value with All Stakeholders
    5. Cultivating Enlightened Self-Interest
    6. Conclusion
  14. CHAPTER EIGHT: Cocreate a Field of Wise Leadership: Find Your Wisdom Logic
    1. One Journey to Wise Leadership: Steve Jobs
    2. Wisdom Logic: Your Authentic Pathway to Wise Leadership
    3. Cultivating Leadership Wisdom Across Social Systems
    4. Wise Leadership in a Complex World
    5. Conclusion
  15. Acknowledgments
  16. About the Authors
  17. Index

Product information

  • Title: From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom
  • Author(s): Prasad Kaipa, Navi Radjou
  • Release date: March 2013
  • Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
  • ISBN: 9781118296202