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Book Review

Beyond Counterfeit Leadership

How You Can Become a More Authentic Leader

Executive Excellence Publishing - 1997 (240 pages in hardback)

Author Ken Shelton

ISBN 1-890009-20-2

Beyond Counterfeit Leadership was published almost 10 years ago. Frankly, I had not heard of the book until a fine public relations director from Executive Excellence mentioned it in a phone conversation and offered to send me a copy for review. In a nutshell, I am deeply impressed with this outstanding book. First, the foreword is by Warren Bennis and what he has to say is a powerful indictment of the obvious lack of leadership today in all segments of our society. His foreword entitled, Where Have All the Real Leaders Gone? is a compelling and humbling introduction to what follows in the remainder of the text.

Author, editor and CEO Ken Shelton writes from the perspective of 30 years of personal experience and observation. The author admits he has been too cloistered and silent in the past on this topic. Shelton wrote this book as a “coming out” to challenge counterfeit leaders. He coins the phrase “Counterfeit Leadership” to describe harmful characteristics, and a cultural disease afflicting our organizations and families today. It is a destructive pseudo leadership that appears strong and capable on the outside. But beyond the façade it is corrosive, self-centered and harmful nature that ultimately betrays and alienates others. Unfortunately, our society lauds many counterfeit leaders who hold positions of power or high visibility as cultural “heroes” even when they are impostors or shallow frauds. Our media gives counterfeit leaders a lot of attention and prominence. Because of this, they can appear as very persuasive and attractive. To become an authentic leader means we must “wage war on the bogus elements in ourselves, our organizations and our societies.”

The purpose of this book probes into the heart of our own values. Shelton did not conceive this book as only an examination of organizational structure. He states, “Please understand my bias: that authentic leadership of self, of personal relationships, and of family units is as important as leadership of business and government organizations – and that those domains are not mutually exclusive.” This is important because the author believes we are all composites of both authentic and counterfeit leadership. Since we have strengths and weaknesses we fall somewhere on a continuum between both types.

Beyond Counterfeit Leadership outlines six degrees of counterfeit leadership on a continuum beginning with insecurity. Shelton maintains that this insecurity is at the root of counterfeit leadership growing from a lack of love and self-identity. Each of the following five degrees build upon each other and deepen this incapacitating leadership. In contrast, authentic leadership is also presented as six steps or stages of growth beginning with emancipation. It is difficult for growth to occur when an individual is enslaved by dependency and addiction. The eighteen chapters in the book present six sections, or six progressive steps toward greater authentic leadership. Each step is written clearly with solid analogies and real world examples.

At weLEAD we are asked to review many books on the topic of leadership. I personally have read over 60 the past few years. Beyond Counterfeit Leadership is a masterpiece that has not received the attention it deserves. I personally believe it should be a textbook in every leadership and ethics class taught in the nation.

weLEAD rating – highly recommended

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