Leadership on the Line (Revised)

Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Change

By: Ronald A. Heifetz, Marty Linsky

Narrated by: Jack Garrett

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, according to 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.

©2017 Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky (P)2017 Recorded Books

Amazing book

The most I can say without giving anything away is that, the book gave me chills throughout the read. It is disappointing that I have reached the end of the book.

Sacred Heart

The final sections on love as service were impactful at a time in my doctoral studies where I questioned the veracity of “you can’t lead them if you don’t love them.” I thought this was mistaken based on my own “scars of the past” and that love was reserved for those I was actually close with. These final sections and chapters framed love as service and leadership as a labor of love. This truly helped me embrace anew the word love as a fuller expression of leadership in spite of the inherent dangers that come along with it.

Must read - great stories - the Bible of Leadership

Ron Heifetz is the most popular Professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Gov’t because of this book and the class he teaches based on this book.

My greatest regret is not taking his class. My classmates talk of his class constantly and apply the lessons they learned from him in their roles as Ministers & Ambassadors.

Practical and honest

Unique among leadership books in its honesty about the perils of leadership along with practical advice for avoiding the worst outcomes.

Great view of leadership

This book gives you a holistic down-to-earth view of leadership and the ability to perform it (instead of the common believe that leadership is a gift).