Cambridge Business Association
Grounded
Book

Grounded

How Leaders Stay Rooted in an Uncertain World

Bob Rosen
Jossey-Bass, 2013
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Well Structured

Recommendation

According to organizational psychologist Bob Rosen, having strong roots in six areas of personal “health” influences what you do and how you perform as a “healthy leader.” He explains how your “physical, emotional, intellectual, social, vocational and spiritual” well-being affect your work as a leader. His extensive treatment highlights leadership values, goals, habits and capabilities, and inspires you to reflect on your practices by posing provocative questions. Every chapter starts with “warning signs” that indicate a decline in leadership health. getAbstract recommends Rosen’s wholesome food for thought to current and new leaders who aspire to achieve more aware, healthier leadership practices.

Summary

“The Healthy Leader Model”

In today’s environment of “globalization,” “complexity” and “competition,” leaders need a comprehensive framework to help them withstand the current “leadership crisis.” To discover your inner self as a leader, dig out your “healthy roots.” Think of a strong oak tree, with its foliage and trunk above ground and its roots underground. In the past, leadership literature paid attention to the “outside appearance” of the tree: How do leaders act, and which leadership behaviors do you see them performing? However, for healthy leadership, you also need to acknowledge what is below the ground in the “nourishing roots” that form the “hidden foundation” of your leadership capacity. The roots represent who you are. Healthy leadership stems from that personal foundation, not from your actions.

Your leadership roots are planted in “six areas of health”:

“Physical Health”

Your physical health matters. Today’s leaders must deal with longer hours and increased stress and job insecurity in an environment of mounting pressure and speed. To build your physical health, develop “body-mind awareness” through personal insights that nourish a healthy...

About the Author

Organizational psychologist Bob Rosen is the founder and CEO of Healthy Companies International and a MacArthur Foundation grant-supported researcher. He comments on business and leadership for The New York Times.

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