Why Leadership Sucks tm

Fundamentals of Level 5 Leadership and Servant Leadership

De: Miles Anthony Smith

Narrado por: Miles Anthony Smith

What is ethical leadership? Is there a difference between leadership vs management? What is strategic leadership? What is the most effective leadership philosophy? Do you wish your company had leadership coaching and leadership courses, or are you frustrated with executive leadership? Do you long for more participative leadership? You are not alone.

So why does leadership suck?

It sucks because real leadership is hard, requires selfless service, and because the buck stops here. Servant leadership or Level 5 leadership is uncomfortable, humbling, self-denying, painful, and counterintuitive; nonetheless, participative leadership is the only kind of leadership that brings lasting results, genuine happiness, and true self-fulfillment.

The book is divided into four parts:

• Part 1: To serve or not to serve. Educational leadership requires servant leadership.
• Part 2: Do what's best for your organization. Discusses various aspects of organizational leadership and culture
• Part 3: Humility 101. Leadership principles of self-examination, apologies, authenticity, controlling and displaying emotions, and handling adversity are examined.
• Part 4: Specific management situations, focusing on business leadership competencies.

Here is the leadership training and leadership coaching you will learn from Miles and experience in Why Leadership Sucks?

• Why servant leadership is a superior leadership philosophy and a better long-term strategy.
• Develop executive leadership skills with practical action steps.
• Learn from real world examples from the author's educational leadership experience.
• Quotes on leadership help highlight and introduce sections within each chapter.

To discover why ethical leadership is frustrating and learn strategic leadership principles for your leadership journey, download a sample or purchase Why Leadership Sucks now.

©2012 Kompelling Publishing (P)2013 Kompelling Publishing

Great Intro to Leadership Culture

Would you listen to Why Leadership Sucks again? Why?

I would not read this book again. However, it is not because it is not good. It is a good intro book for those who have never read a book on leadership. The leadership beliefs of the author are in line with common leadership gurus like John Maxwell. If you are looking to begin the process of reading about the collective theories on leadership, this is a great place to start.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The book starts out very cogent with master themes about leadership. It ends with "campfire stories" as one reviewer put it. So, you have to reorient your expectations towards the end of the book as multiple short stories and allegories about leadership. All good nuggets of wisdom.

What about Miles Anthony Smith’s performance did you like?

He puts himself out there and is very transparent in his own journey through learning these principles. By no means does he make you think "he has arrived" and you are not as great as him.

Any additional comments?

If you are a person heading into your first middle management job: director or even vice president, this is a great place to start for you. If you are heading to the executive suite, this book may contain principles you have already read before.

Great Book on Leadership!!!!

What did you love best about Why Leadership Sucks?

What I love best about Why Leadership Sucks is that it addresses both the good and the bad aspects of being a leader. Often, leaders are placed into compromising situations and this audiobook addresses these issues.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Why Leadership Sucks?

One of the most memorable moments of Why Leadership Sucks is when the author discusses the desire to stay one step ahead of its followers by micro-managing. This is very common in the corporate world and Author Miles Anthony Smith is very proficient in discussing the cons accompanied as an outcome of this.

Have you listened to any of Miles Anthony Smith’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time that I have listened to this author. I have read the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and this audiobook does not hold back while going further in depth in discussing leadership issues. That makes this a must read!

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this audiobook to anyone pursuing or currently in a leadership role!

What a Great Listen!

Would you listen to Why Leadership Sucks again? Why?

Yes! "Why Leadership Sucks" is a great audiobook! It addresses the difficult to discuss topics when in a leadership position, as well as provides guidance on completing tasks when these topics hinder production in the workplace. The author does not hold back! It is very straightforward and discusses common and uncommon topics that leaders in any organization deal with.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This audiobook isn't based on specific characters nor based around a particular story. This audiobook addresses real life situations from a leader's perspective.

What does Miles Anthony Smith bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Miles Anthony Smith does not hold back when it comes to addressing the issues that leaders in a workplace face. This author establishes these issues and provides guidance to addressing them.

Any additional comments?

I would certainly recommend this audiobook!

A Great Study on Leadership

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Why Leadership Sucks is a great look at corporate life and an even better look at yourself and the life you are after and want. I wasn’t familiar with the fundamentals of level 5 leadership, but I can surely see its appeal for any and every one that is frustrated with their leadership and want a better fundamental way to go about creating the strongest leadership, and mindset for that matter. Miles Anthony Smith is as gifted a narrator as he is an author, he really helps put thing in perspective and his comprehension and delivery on many of the great management books is spot on. It’s a good long read, but really delivers some rewarding insights and inspirations of working to become a gifted and participative servant leader and a trustworthy manager. Great book for anyone looking at getting into management or anyone looking to move up.

What about Miles Anthony Smith’s performance did you like?

A gifted narrator, he talks at the right speed and is confident and clear.

Any additional comments?

Great for your morning commute to work.

Campfire stories from a veteran leader

What made the experience of listening to Why Leadership Sucks the most enjoyable?

Miles Smith interweaves personal introspection with the wisdom from great leaders in order to urge each of us to do better at work and at home. This is not a photoshopped picture of leadership. It is genuine. It is direct and honest.

What did you like best about this story?

Many leadership books are only applicable to people already in an official business position. This book understands that everyone is a leader on some level. It can help improve our caliber of leadership while better understanding the strengths and/or weaknesses of those leading us.

What about Miles Anthony Smith’s performance did you like?

Miles shares his book as if he were sharing campfire stories about leadership with his friends. Some triumphant tales - some ghost stories - all useful to anyone wanting to be a better leader.

Highly Recommended

Loved listening to this audible book. Helped me a lot. The author has a convincing quality because of experience of the subject. Audio quality is superb. Will recommend it to anyone in search for a nice audible book.

level 5 leadership

an interesting book on leadership covers a lot of different areas. would recommend it to employees to top-level management.

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown...

Stan Lee is often credited with the statement, “With great power comes great responsibility.” “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” said Shakespeare in Henry IV Part II. Either statement is perhaps an apt synopsis of the book, “Why Leadership Sucks: The Fundamentals of Level 5 Leadership and Servant Leadership.” The book does an excellent job of detailing the price, the frustrations, the rewards, and the responsibilities that go with leadership.

Far from an aggressive battle cry, the author creates a thoughtful portrait of what it truly takes to be a leader and why the big corner office may in fact be the last place you want to be. He also paints an honest picture of the rewards of leadership as he interweaves the key suggestions of numerous other popular-press management books and adds insights based upon Christian theology. To his credit, the author takes pains to carefully cite his source material, and near the end of the book he even lists his sources and suggests additional readings.

Some might be tempted to criticize this eclecticism of influences as derivative. However, here the combination works. Plus, in only a little over four and a half hours, you can gain the key insights of more than 30 hours of books. I know. I’ve listened to or read the majority of his source material previously.

Appropriate to the tone of the material, the author/narrator does not employ a forceful motivational speaker tone. This is not to say he will put you to sleep, but this is not the audiobook to keep you pumped up for a long drive.

All in all, this audiobook is a good choice for the aspiring executive, or the proven one, looking for an efficient way to gain the key insights of much of the current popular-press management literature. It’s worth the time.

No One Said It Was Easy At The Top . . .

I really enjoyed this read as someone who is getting ready to make her move for a corner office in the next six months, I read anything that will give me a leg up. When I started reading this book I realized that I was listening to the Voice of Experience with respect to the information.

Whether Author Smith gleaned this knowledge from living it or watching it he got the system and the pitfalls down pat. I enjoyed reading of his personal experience and his subtextual thoughts on everything it takes.

True some of it is personal choice but . . . it is backed up with antedotes and musings from a corner office veteran. The structure was conversational vs preachy and you could almost see him leaning in your office doorway from time to time. For a folksy chat about corporate structure and motivation.

Overall the price of the ticket was well worth the ride I recommend this audio to all levels of management and want to be management. Great commute time, make it work for you.

Good food for thought, but too many biblical quote

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, It had a nice focus on human aspect and authenticity. I especially liked the angle of thinking about company rather that your personal gain.

Which scene was your favorite?

Focusing on serving the company rather than your own ego is a nice touch.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found the book overcrowded with quotes from the bible and some of them felt a bit far fetched. Content is pretty similar to other management books.

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of audiobook via story cartel. Even though I posted my review there, every month I receive a reminder from Miles to post a review and that is disturbing. I am considering to remove a star due to this and rate it to 3 stars only.