Your First Leadership Job: How Catalyst Leaders Bring Out the Best in Others

I have been teaching, consulting, and coaching senior leaders for a couple of decades, now, and since around 2010, a great deal of my work--both in advisory work and in executive education--has been on developing new leaders...both getting the ready for their first significant role and keeping their skills honed while they progress to higher leadership levels. The Byham text does a terrific job of demystifying a leader's role--and day job--and also gives useful prescriptions for job success...realizing that not every day will be rosy.A lot of "leadership books" talk about all of the "good things" that happen with leaders; Byham's text does, too, but it also points out out, perhaps more importantly, how to get up and lead after a leadership "defeat" or challenge. This, perhaps, is the text's most useful feature...which makes it a must-read not only for new leaders but also for seasoned leaders, too. The penultimate chapter on women in leadership deserves much praise, too--not just for the research it highlights but also for the actionable, tactical advice it gives all women leaders on how to breakthrough "glass ceilings."Not only will this one go on my shelf--and into my lectures--but this is a great addition for any graduate course in leadership, organizational behavior, or strategic management...and I plan to add it to my students' reading lists this year!Paul W. ThurmanColumbia University

Tacy Byham and Richard Wellin’s new book, Your First Leadership Job fills an important gap in what new leaders and even veteran leaders can do to be more effective in their respective roles.The book is filled with great content, actionable exercises, and thoughtful “white space” moments where readers are asked to slow down and reflect on their real world work experiences.One of their best ideas is around being a “catalyst leader” rather than a “boss” as it helps to change the image of a manager as someone who just expects folks to get things done at all costs to someone who inspires their team to greatness.When you add in their ideas around branding, understanding and giving your manager what she wants, and even the nitty-gritty items such as how to run meetings, give feedback, and conduct performance management reviews, Your First Leadership Job gives any and all readers great tips to sharpen their leadership skills.As an organizational psychologist I will find many opportunities to share this book and its ideas with many senior and new leaders. I expect that they will find that its content will give them the tools to drive success through their organization.Pick up this book for yourself and see how far it can take your career

While it is targeted at first time leaders and those who want to become leaders, this book is a must read for all leaders. I have been in Sr. Executive leadership roles for the past 15 years and there are things in this book that I can still use every day.Part one of the book reminded me of things that it took me the first 20 years of my career to even recognize as being critical to a successful leadership career. The second part of the book and accompanying website, provides me with many handy tools/tips to keep improving.I wish that I had read this before I started down the management path… oh how many mistakes I could have avoided! I’m going to buy a few more copies to give to my daughters; Chapter 21 - “A Woman’s First Leadership Job is a phenomenal resource for all female leaders…. Particularly “Tacy’s wake-up call”

Fine book easy to read

I've been in numerous leadership roles, have worked with many leadership development consultants, and read many books on leadership over the course of my career. I'm currently using this book as a reference in an executive coaching engagement, and I'd be hard pressed to suggest another book that is so well suited as a primer for first time leaders and also a great resource for those of us in later stages of our careers. The stories present effective situational context, the simple self-assessments prompt valuable personal reflection, and the tool sets provide very practical means of applying the book's leadership concepts within any leader's organization. This will be a book that I recommend widely to new and seasoned leaders alike.