Marty Linsky

The dangerous work of leading change--somebody has to do it. Will you put yourself on the line? To lead is to live dangerously. It's romantic and exciting to think of leadership as all inspiration, decisive action, and rich rewards, but leading requires taking risks that can jeopardize your career and your personal life. It requires putting yourself on the line, disrupting the status quo, and surfacing hidden conflict. And when people resist and push back, there's a strong temptation to play it safe. Those who choose to lead plunge in, take the risks, and sometimes get burned. But it doesn't have to be that way say renowned leadership experts Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky. In Leadership on the Line, they show how it's possible to make a difference without getting "taken out" or pushed aside. They present everyday tools that give equal weight to the dangerous work of leading change and the critical importance of personal survival. Through vivid stories from all walks of life, the authors present straightforward strategies for navigating the perilous straits of leadership. Whether you're a parent or a politician, a CEO or a community activist, this practical book shows how you can exercise leadership and survive and thrive to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

There is no transformation without trust, but trust is not transformation. We must learn how to invest trust for transformation. Groups that have become skeptical need leadership to refuel a sense of community and continuity if change is going to happen. But trust can be easily hoarded or squandered. This Practicing Change volume from Tod Bolsinger outlines steps to envision trust for the sake of growth. In this essential Christian leadership resource, you'll find: Wisdom on reviving trust within your community to enable transformative growthPractical advice from experienced Christian leader and bestselling author Tod BolsingerBrief and accessible chapters sprinkled with colorful illustrationsReal-life case studies and balcony time exercises for teamsThe Practicing Change Series from Tod Bolsinger offers an engaging introduction to how we process organizational change and come through with renewed mission and vision. Each of the four illustrated volume opens and closes with a case study and includes balcony time exercises for teams to process together. Also available: How Not to Waste a Crisis, The Mission Always Wins, and Leading Through Resistance.

Rising to the occasion calls for a new skill set. But when crises hit, we return to our defaults and double down. The upheaval you find yourself in can reframe your leadership and revive your team. In this volume, an ideal place to begin the Practicing Change Series, Tod Bolsinger explores the opportunity available in a reality shaken by health, financial, social, and political disasters. Crisis is an opportunity to stop trying harder and begin embracing adaptability. Through observation, interpretation, and intervention, we as leaders can explore a way forward. When your church or nonprofit needs fresh vision, take these steps to learn how to lead anew, and then continue on your leadership journey with the next volumes. In this essential Christian leadership resource, you'll find: Wisdom on leading your organization through a crisis by embracing adaptabilityPractical advice from experienced Christian leader and bestselling author Tod BolsingerBrief and accessible chapters sprinkled with colorful illustrationsReal-life case studies and balcony time exercises for teamsThe Practicing Change Series from Tod Bolsinger offers an engaging introduction to how we process organizational change and come through with renewed mission and vision. Each of the four illustrated volume opens and closes with a case study and includes balcony time exercises for teams to process together. Also available: The Mission Always Wins, Leading Through Resistance, and Invest in Transformation.

It's time to further the mission. Not the boss, not the team, not the stakeholders--the mission. Change requires tough decisions. But when the focus is blurred, how can we stay on track? We need clarity and agreement on the real task at hand--our genuine mission. This Practicing Change volume from Tod Bolsinger guides us through naming competing values and realigning the driving purpose with missional clarity. In this essential Christian leadership resource, you'll find: Wisdom on clarifying your organization's purpose to give your team an aligned missionPractical advice from experienced Christian leader and bestselling author Tod BolsingerBrief and accessible chapters sprinkled with colorful illustrationsReal-life case studies and balcony time exercises for teamsThe Practicing Change Series from Tod Bolsinger offers an engaging introduction to how we process organizational change and come through with renewed mission and vision. Each of the four illustrated volume opens and closes with a case study and includes balcony time exercises for teams to process together. Also available: How Not to Waste a Crisis, Leading Through Resistance, and Invest in Transformation.

"People don't resist change. They resist loss." --Marty Linsky and Ronald HeifetzWhen facing losses, even the best teammates can start pushing back. As teams wrestle with uncertainty, leaders need to chart a steady course. Join Tod Bolsinger as he teaches unexpected skills for engaging resistance and moving the mission forward. In this essential Christian leadership resource, you'll find: Wisdom on leading communities past losses with courage and empathyPractical advice from experienced Christian leader and bestselling author Tod BolsingerBrief and accessible chapters sprinkled with colorful illustrationsReal-life case studies and balcony time exercises for teamsThe Practicing Change Series from Tod Bolsinger offers an engaging introduction to how we process organizational change and come through with renewed mission and vision. Each of the four illustrated volume opens and closes with a case study and includes balcony time exercises for teams to process together. Also available: How Not to Waste a Crisis, The Mission Always Wins, and Invest in Transformation.

How do the most resilient companies survive--and even thrive--during a slowdown? If you read nothing else on preparing for a tough economy and coming back stronger, read these 10 articles. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help your company persevere through economic challenges and continue to grow even as your competitors stumble. This book will inspire you to:Get your company ready before a downturn strikesLearn the right lessons from previous recessionsMinimize pain while cutting costs and managing riskFoster a healthy organizational culture during anxious timesSeize the opportunity to innovate and reinvent your businessThis collection of articles includes "Seize Advantage in a Downturn," by David Rhodes and Daniel Stelter; "How to Survive a Recession and Thrive Afterward: A Research Roundup," by Walter Frick; "How to Bounce Back from Adversity," by Joshua D. Margolis and Paul G. Stoltz; "Rohm and Haas's Former CEO on Pulling Off a Sweet Deal in a Down Market," by Raj Gupta; "Leadership in a (Permanent) Crisis," by Ronald Heifetz, Alexander, Grashow, and Marty Linsky; "How to Be a Good Boss in a Bad Economy," by Robert I. Sutton; "Layoffs That Don't Break Your Company," by Sandra J. Sucher and Shalene Gupta; "Getting Reorgs Right," by Stephen Heidari-Robinson and Suzanne Heywood; "Reigniting Growth," by Chris Zook and James Allen; "Reinvent Your Business Model Before It's Too Late," by Paul Nunes and Tim Breene; and "How to Protect Your Job in a Recession," by Janet Banks and Diane Coutu.

When change requires you to challenge people's familiar reality, it can be difficult, dangerous work. Whatever the context--whether in the private or the public sector--many will feel threatened as you push though major changes. But as a leader, you need to find a way to make it work. Ron Heifetz first defined this problem with his distinctive theory of adaptive leadership in Leadership Without Easy Answers. In a second book, Leadership on the Line, Heifetz and coauthor Marty Linsky highlighted the individual and organizational dangers of leading through deep change in business, politics, and community life. Now, Heifetz, Linsky, and coauthor Alexander Grashow are taking the next step: The Practice of Adaptive Leadership is a hands-on, practical guide containing stories, tools, diagrams, cases, and worksheets to help you develop your skills as an adaptive leader, able to take people outside their comfort zones and assess and address the toughest challenges. The authors have decades of experience helping people and organizations create cultures of adaptive leadership. In today's rapidly changing world, The Practice of Adaptive Leadership can be your handbook to meeting the demands of leadership in the midst of complexity.