Page 24 - Appreciative Leadership

Introduction xxiii

how to be it. These are not solely our ideas. They are ideas that have
come together in this book, through us. Our dear friend Lakota sage
and singer Howard Bad Hand, tells how musicians “catch” the songs
they write. The songs show up in their hearts, minds, and ears, and

they write them and sing them for the people. This is how it has been
with this book. Together, we caught it. And we have written it for the
people: those in leadership, those who aspire to leadership, and those
who educate and cultivate future leadership. The ideas it contains have

been shown to us, told to us, and given to us by colleagues and clients
around the world. And now they are yours.

Overview of the Book

The book is written in short sections. You can start at the beginning
and read it cover to cover; or you can scan the table of contents, fi nd
a section that interests you, and start there. Either way you are certain

to find meaningful ideas and helpful practices.

This is our pause button. When you come upon

PAUSE
it in the book, we recommend that you take time

for refl ection. The activities and questions associ-
ated with this “pause” are meant to be provocative: to help
you make meaning of, and remember, what you are reading.
We also suggest that you make notes in the margins as you

go, especially about your reflections and any insights that you
may have. We wrote this book for you. Now it is time to make
its ideas and practices your own.

Th e first chapter, “Appreciative Leadership Now,” sets the stage.
In it, we look at the context of leadership today, and offer our defi ni-

tion of Appreciative Leadership. We also assert the relational nature of
Appreciative Leadership and describe how it creates ripples of positive
results.