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Journal of Education for Business
ISSN: 0883-2323 (Print) 1940-3356 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vjeb20
Daft, Richard L. The Leadership Experience (6th
ed.).
James L. Morrison
To cite this article: James L. Morrison (2014) Daft, Richard L. The Leadership Experience (6th ed.)., Journal of Education for Business, 89:8, 457-458, DOI: 10.1080/08832323.2014.921593
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2014.921593
Published online: 04 Nov 2014.
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Book Review
Daft, Richard L.The Leadership Experience(6th ed.). Stam-ford, CT: Cengage Learning Press. (2014). 507 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4354-6285-4. Paperback $246.99, eBook $142.49.
BUILDING LEADERSHIP CAPACITY WITH CREDIBILITY
The objective of this text is to assist the reader in mastering those leadership skills that are required to become an effec-tive business leader. Within this context, Richard L. Daft also provides a basic foundation for understanding what leadership involves. In this regard, the author suggests that today’s organizations are undergoing significant changes with employees forming new kinds of working relation-ships under more flexible leadership. The rise of social media, mobile commerce, and virtual organizations is reflected in the topics included for discussion. In this respect, Daft delineates a variety of leadership parameters such as emotional intelligence, creativity and innovation, virtual work teams, and ethical accountability. The text is offered in both an online format as well as in traditional paperback.
The target audience for the text is the 4-year baccalaure-ate undergradubaccalaure-ate who is attempting to learn the basics of leadership while at the same time acquiring those skills that will assist in accelerating a career. Daft writes in a style that attempts to motivate students to take leadership seri-ously as part of their future. The outcome is to have stu-dents enhance their leadership ability through a learning process that is very personal and insightful by providing numerous opportunities for self-reflection through an assortment of surveys, exercises, and case studies.
The text is divided into five parts. Part I consists of just one chapter that describes what exactly is leadership and how it differs from that of the role of management. Specifi-cally, in Chapter 1, Daft describes how the approach to studying leadership has evolved from that of transactional heroic leadership to that of transformational and servant leadership. Part II consists of two chapters whereby Daft provides a thorough background of the research behind the discipline by referring to an evolving process that took us from a reliance on trait, behavior, and contingency theories for understanding effective leadership to the current study
of relational theories. In Chapter 2, the idea of entrepre-neurial leadership is introduced by relating an importance attached between today’s followers and leaders in building creative solutions to very complex competitive challenges. In Chapter 3, Daft clarifies the need for what is called situa-tional leadership whereby individuals need to be flexible but dynamic in working with coworkers with different operating styles, thinking patterns, and values.
Part III enables the reader to become personally involved in leadership development by going through a diagnostic process in analyzing personal strengths and weaknesses. In Chapter 4, Daft discusses the necessity for today’s leaders to be self-aware of their values, beliefs, and personality traits as they develop their own approaches for exhibiting leadership. Noted here is an individual’s being aware of his or her cognitive style (right brain vs. left brain or concep-tual vs. experiential) for thinking through the problem-solv-ing process. In Chapter 5, the concept of emotional intelligence is examined in great detail. Along the same line of thought, Daft recognizes fear as a likely detrimental factor in generating confidence among coworkers. In Chap-ter 6 he introduces the rational approach to leadership and the corresponding need for leaders to set the ethical tone in their organizations. In this regard, Daft presents several strategies for leaders to adopt for enhancing an ethical orga-nizational culture. Also of interest is the discussion of the need of courage on the part of leaders for overcoming obstacles, as well as resistance, to initiating innovative changes to daily operations. In Chapter 7, Daft introduces the principles of effective followership. In this regard, the reader is guided in examining his or her own followership style in an attempt to gain an understanding of exactly how leadership and followership connect. The notion that is introduced is that leaders and followers are interdependent, and success is often determined by individuals being effec-tive in filling both roles at varying times.
Part IV focuses on the leader as a relationship builder and what is referred to as a social architect. In Chapter 8, several motivational theories are presented for study. In this regard, expectancy and equity theories are discussed in terms of explaining their advantages and disadvantages for motivating others. The use of empowerment is also intro-duced as an employee motivator. Being an effective com-municator is the focus of Chapter 9. Active listening,
JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FOR BUSINESS, 89: 457–458, 2014 CopyrightÓTaylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0883-2323 print / 1940-3356 online DOI: 10.1080/08832323.2014.921593
asking questions, and storytelling are used as examples of encouraging open communication among employees. The challenges of social media and other forms of electronic communication are also discussed. Putting together a col-laborative team is the subject of Chapter 10. How teams are formed, how effective team members contribute, and how conflict may be managed are the core concepts analyzed. Chapter 11 engages the reader in strategies that promote organizational diversity. Breaking down personal barriers by developing cultural intelligence to enable an individual to become an inclusive leader is an intriguing aspect of this chapter. In the concluding Chapter 12 to this part of the text, the use of influence and power through coalition build-ing is offered for analysis by Daft.
In Part V Daft concludes the text with a discussion of how leaders initiate change within today’s complex organi-zations. In Chapter 13, Daft presents specific steps for gen-erating a vision for setting a new direction that others are willing to follow. Topics include how to develop an opera-tional strategy to not only assure sustainability but also for creating synergy among diverse workgroups. Chapter 14 is about creating a work culture that reflects not only organi-zational values, but also those shared by members in an organization. Daft here emphasizes the point that work cul-ture provides the norms as to how employees are expected to relate to one another. To Daft, leaders need to rely on their moral principles and values through their daily actions to motivate people to work towards success. In Chapter 15, building capacity to lead change is the focus. In this regard, Daft depicts an eight-stage model for organizational change. Promoting creativity by instilling lateral thinking among cohorts is proposed by Daft as a fundamental princi-ple upon which to act. Understanding why individuals resist change is also discussed.
The strength of the text is its multidimensional approach to the study of leadership. In this regard, the text contains numerous examples of leaders who are offered as role mod-els. There are numerous quotes from leaders that are used to inspire the reader. Book reviews are provided throughout the text that offer opportunities for the reader to expand
their knowledge beyond the points delineated by the author. In terms of personal insight, the text contains self-assess-ment opportunities to not only diagnose individual traits but to become aware of how to address leadership issues such as conflict management, shaping culture and value, and strategic communication. In addition, students have the capacity to connect to leaders through a variety of Twitter leads provided by Daft. Another strength is the opportunity for the reader to engage in practical skill-building exercises at the conclusion of each chapter. Part of this engagement is the availability of numerous videos that enable students to observe leadership in action. Finally, the index of organi-zations provided at the end of the text is a great resource for developing a professional directory of references. Although referred to somewhat with the discussion of lateral thinking on the part of today’s leader, it would have been helpful if Daft integrated into the content the use of divergent think-ing as an alternative for generatthink-ing creative alternatives. A self-assessment on part of the reader in terms of individual capacity to adopt alternate forms of thinking patterns would help reinforce the concept of the need to be adaptable, which is a repeated theme throughout the text.
This text is an excellent source of information for stu-dents beginning their study of leadership. Stustu-dents and their instructors are provided with numerous resources to supplement their roles in the learning process. Daft offers a very intensive yet practical reading that is filled with credi-bility. By relying on examples of those in present leader-ship positions in a variety of organizations, students get a blending of academic theory with practical experience. Daft appears to capture the richness of knowledge sur-rounding leadership by presenting an approach that brings together real-life examples, self-reflection, and practical skill-building. This text is an intriguing resource for delin-eating to our students a way to accelerate their careers upon their graduation.
James L. Morrison
University of Delaware Newark, Delaware, USA
458 BOOK REVIEW
