What You Really Need to Lead

174 Pages·2015·0.8 MB·English

by  Robert S. Kaplan

“In What You Really Need to Lead, Rob Kaplan makes a breakthrough
case for leaders to embrace an ownership model. This requires a mind
shift in thinking and practice but provides the potential to unlock
remarkable results. This practical but radical book is a clarion call to
anyone leading a complex organization today.”
—DARREN WALKER, President, Ford Foundation
“Rob Kaplan’s brilliant third book on leadership is his best yet. He
challenges all leaders to think like owners, thus bringing that deep sense
of responsibility and enterprise perspective to organizations large and
small. Reading Kaplan’s book is like having a wise mentor at your side.
All leaders can benefit enormously from his wisdom and advice.”
—BILL GEORGE, professor, Harvard Business School; former CEO, Medtronic; and
author, Discover Your True North
“Every organization, whether business, governmental, or philanthropic,
should insist that its entire leadership team read this book cover to cover.
It is written with wisdom, punch, and color. Only Rob Kaplan, with his
own leadership experience at Goldman Sachs, his mentorship of
students at Harvard, and the unusual pace and clarity of his words as an
author, could have delivered such a masterpiece about leadership.”
—WILLIAM H. DRAPER III, cofounder and cochairman, Draper Richards Kaplan
Foundation
“Building a highly functioning and committed team requires opening
oneself up—being vulnerable—and allowing empathy, support, and
discussion to permeate. Rob Kaplan offers concrete steps for how to
achieve this leadership feat. Follow his advice and you’ll undoubtedly
become a stronger leader.”
—R. C. BUFORD, President of Sports Franchises and San Antonio Spurs General
Manager, Spurs Sports & Entertainment
“What You Really Need to Lead offers a fresh view of what leadership
means, as well as compelling, real-life stories and practical advice for
both aspiring and seasoned leaders. If you’re wondering how to lead and
make a positive difference in the world, read this book and start today.”
—BARBARA BUSH, cofounder and CEO, Global Health Corps
“What You Really Need to Lead is honest, direct, and filled with practical
advice. I found it especially useful as an entrepreneur trying to build a
culture of ownership in my growing team. It helped me understand how I
could do more—and be more—by focusing on a few very tangible steps
that made me a better leader.”
—ZAMEER KASSAM, CEO and Chief Designer, Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry
“What You Really Need to Lead provides you with the rational evidence
for introspection as a leader and empowers you to take responsibility for
your actions, strengths, and weaknesses, and to understand your
influence on your team. It will set you on a course for success by helping
you define your and your business’s value.”
—VANESSA KERRY, cofounder and CEO, Seed Global Health; Associate Director of
Partnerships, Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital; faculty,
Harvard Medical School
WHAT
YOU
REALLY
NEED
TO
LEAD
The POWER of THINKING and ACTING
LIKE AN OWNER
ROBERT STEVEN KAPLAN
Harvard Business Review Press
Boston, Massachusetts
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Copyright 2015 Robert Steven Kaplan
All rights reserved
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise), without the prior permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be
directed to [email protected], or mailed to Permissions, Harvard Business School
Publishing, 60 Harvard Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02163.
The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the book’s
publication but may be subject to change.
Kaplan, Robert Steven.
What you really need to lead : the power of thinking and acting like an owner / Robert Steven
Kaplan.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-63369055-4 (hardback)
1. Leadership.2. Executive ability. I. Title
HD57.7.K36633 2015
658.4’092—dc23
ISBN: 9781633690554
eISBN: 9781633690561
To my son, Michael
Contents
Introduction: Demystifying Leadership
What It Really Means, How It Can Be Learned, and Why Ownership Is Essential
1. The Ownership Mind-Set
The Power of Thinking and Acting Like an Owner
2. Tackling the Challenges of Leadership
Making a Commitment to Learning, Asking the Right Questions, Seeking Advice, and Fighting
Through Isolation
3. Mastering the Essential Processes of Leadership
A Regimen for Learning How to Think and Act Like an Owner
4. You Can’t Do This Alone
Learning to Build Relationships and Harness the Power of a Group
5. The Ownership Path as a Lifelong Journey
Taking Steps and Making Use of Tools That Will Help You Become a Better Leader
Appendix A: Essentials of What You Really Need to Lead
Appendix B: A Leadership Reading List
Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author
INTRODUCTION