Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra

Leadership isn't something you're born with, but something you can learn and develop over time. If you aspire to be a leader, it's important to both act and think like a leader. Herminia Ibarra provides invaluable insight into leadership in her book “Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader.” We’ll take a look at the key points of the book and share how you can use them to develop your own leadership skills.

The title of the book is based on the principle that it is important to be both outwardly and inwardly focused to succeed as a leader. The principle is articulated in three sections: Simultaneously Act and Think Like a Leader, Adapt Your Leadership Style, and Picture Your Leadership Self.

In the first section, the book focuses on how to act and think like a leader at the same time. According to Ibarra, this is important because it helps you build a strong bond between the internal and external faces of leadership. That is, it helps you develop a unified sense of leadership that both looks and feels right. Ibarra explains that the key is to have a vision of yourself as a leader and to be conscious of how you present yourself in different contexts.

The second section of the book focuses on the importance of adapting your leadership style. Adapting your style means that you can adjust to different situations, so that you don’t always lead in the same way. Ibarra emphasizes the need to be agile and creative when leading, and suggests different strategies to do so. These strategies involve being open to suggestions from others, asking for feedback, and being comfortable with making mistakes.

The third section of the book focuses on the importance of picturing your leadership self. Ibarra explains that in order to be a successful leader, you must be able to envision yourself as one. She states that it’s not enough to simply tell others to do as you say; you must be able to demonstrate that you are a leader through your own example and behavior.

Ultimately, Ibarra’s book is an invaluable resource for those looking to develop their leadership skills. By highlighting the importance of both acting and thinking like a leader and of adapting one’s leadership style, Ibarra shows the importance of being both thoughtful and action oriented as a leader. Furthermore, the book encourages readers to visualize themselves as a leader, providing constructive ways to act in order to achieve this. By following the advice in Ibarra’s book, individuals can begin to transform themselves into successful leaders.