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Book Review

The Trusted Leader

Bringing Out the Best in your People and Your Company

The Free Press – 2003 (271 pages in hardback)

Authors Robert Galford and Anne Siebold Drapeau

ISBN 0-7432-3539-8

The Trusted Leader is a book that has long been needed. Trust is a subject that has woefully been lacking in many past books on leadership and in some respected educational institutions that should have been teaching it. The result of this neglect is evident in the daily news, which has been reporting on the indictment or conviction of numerous business executives for corruption. Our jaded generation is skeptical of most positions of leadership for good reason. For too many, the importance of trust has been clouded by personal greed. Galford and Drapeau boldly discuss this subject with clarity, common sense and research. The authors wrote this book primarily for those in senior leadership roles, but its content is certainly applicable to most anyone.

This book is composed of fourteen chapters within five parts or themes. The parts are logically presented and include…

Part One: An Overview Of Trusted Leadership

Part Two: Identifying And Applying The Tools Of Trusted Leaders

Part Three: How Trusted Leaders Work

Part Four: Defining Moments

Part Five: Building Trust In Perspective

The Trusted Leader is a comprehensive discussion of trust beginning with the definition of trusted leadership and concluding with the importance of leaving a legacy of trust when you depart the organization. As the authors state, “we feel strongly that creating a community of trusted leaders who can then help trust permeate through all levels of an organization-particularly in today’s business context-is critical to every company’s long-term survival and success.”

Galford and Drapeau have written this book using their own research, personal observations and case examples. They offer a series of interactive exercises to determine where trust can be supplemented and improved. In addition, they also offer some diagnostic tools to help the executive rebuild trust. A remarkable “Self-Assessment” tool presented in chapter 2 is one that you will want to revisit often! They also welcome the reader to contribute to an ongoing discussion of trusted leadership at www.thetrustedleader.com

As a credit to its authors, this book was envisioned and started before the Enron, Global Crossing, Adelphia Cable, Tyco and WorldCom scandals broke. It is timely and its message is long overdue. If you want to study a vital yet unfrequented area of leadership, The Trusted Leader is definitely a book you will want in your personal library.

To read an exclusive weLEAD interview with Robert Galford and Anne Siebold Drapeau please click here!

weLEAD rating - highly recommended

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