The AMA Handbook of Leadership

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Effective leadership skills are essential in today's marketplace. This is true for employees as well as managers. This book contains valuable information that can be applied in all business areas, including the health care setting. The book is made up of 23 short research-based lessons, written by renowned business leaders, which can be read in sequence or individually based on the reader's interest. The style of the lessons vary from a theoretical global focus to practical tips and behaviors that can be used to advance any relationship in the reader's life.

Each of the five parts of the book focuses on a particular leadership topic. The first part, “Forging ahead: the global picture,” discusses the global market and the importance of diversity and cultural awareness. Topics such as the difference between a leader, manager, and administrator are discussed, as are the leadership style differences in Western and Eastern cultures.

The second part, “Developing people: the key to the future,” is more people focused and provides insight into developing future leaders. These lessons can be particularly valuable for nurses, who are often known to be hard on the upcoming generation of nurses. Many practical tips also are given to help new leaders be successful in their roles, such as the need to display an attitude that is supportive of growth and diversity, truthful, and open to feedback.

The third part, “Engaging people: the force of change,” concentrates on methods to encourage teamwork and buy-in from employees. Strategies are discussed to motivate personnel, such as the importance of inspiring them and displaying a caring attitude. There are also several pearls of wisdom in this section that remind leaders of their role; for example, that leaders are role models 24 hours a day. The discussed topics will be helpful to any reader, including nurse leaders who often work with different generations of employees who have different values and attitudes.

“Facilitating change: The leader's role” is the title of the fourth part. This section is made up of five chapters that discuss concepts such as the rules of leadership, the importance of humility, and the value of optimism in a good leader. Advice is also given to the readers to help them successfully transition between leadership positions.

The final section, “Taking the lead: the X factors,” explores topics that are not the typical business style but may hold the keys to sustained successful leadership. The valuable relationship between the arts and business is one of the components discussed in this section. Information also is provided regarding the many challenges leaders face in this tumultuous economy.

This book provides something for every reader who is interested in advancing in the leadership arena. There are several tables throughout that also help with understanding of key concepts. The presented topics are fully explored, and most chapters are backed with additional recent references. The editors have done an excellent job choosing writers who cover a wide array of leadership topics to make this a complete and helpful resource.