The Secret Language of Leadership

How Leaders Inspire Action Through Narrative

Stephen Denning

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2007, 279 pages

ISBN: 978-0-7879-8789-3

Keywords: Leadership

Last modified: March 6, 2013, 4:04 p.m.

How do leaders connect and engage with their audiences? In this sequel to The Leader's Guide to Storytelling, business narrative expert Steve Denning explains why traditional approaches to leadership communication don't work and reveals the hidden patterns that effective leaders use to spark change. The book shows how anyone can inspire enduring enthusiasm for a cause, even in skeptical, cynical, or even hostile audiences.

The book introduces the concept of narrative intelligence — an ability to understand and act and react agilely in the quicksilver world of interacting narratives. It shows why this ability is key to the central task of leadership, what its dimensions are, and how you can measure it.

The book's lucid explanations, vivid examples, and practical tips are essential reading for CEOs, managers, change agents, marketers, salespersons, brand managers, politicians, teachers, parents — anyone who is setting out to the change world.

    • My Leadership Journey
  • Part One: What Is Transformational Leadership?
    • Introduction: Ten Mistakes Transformational Leaders Make
    1. The Secret Language of Leadership
  • Part Two: The Language of Leadership: Key Enablers
    1. Articulating a Clear, Inspiring Goal
    2. The Leader's Own Story: Committing to the Goal
    3. Mastering the Audience's Story
    4. Cultivating Narrative Intelligence
    5. Telling Truthful Stories
    6. Leadership Presence: The Body Language of Leadership
  • Part Three: The Language of Leadership: Key Steps
    1. Getting People's Attention
    2. Stimulating Desire
    3. Reinforcing with Reasons
    4. Continuing the Conversation
    5. Epilogue
    • Appendix 1: Presentation to the Change Management Committee of the World Bank: April 1996
    • Appendix 2: Templates and Exercises
    • Appendix 3: What's  Your Narrative Intelligence?

Reviews

The Secret Language of Leadership

Reviewed by Roland Buresund

Bad ** (2 out of 10)

Last modified: March 6, 2013, 4:04 p.m.

OK, so you need to tell a good, inspiring story to be a decent leader… What is new? Where is the meat?

If you really need this book, you really need more leadership qualities. Worthless.

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