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Book Review: The Offsite
by Miki Saxon on April 24th, 2008

Much of the best leadership advice is classic and often lays the groundwork for more modern interpretations. This isn’t always good, but it certainly works in The Offsite, which bills itself as A Leadership Challenge Fable.

In it, Robert H. Thompson presents the philosophy taught in Jim Kouzes’ and Barry Posner’s 1987 The Leadership Challenge, which defined the 5 Practices of Leadership as

• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Others to Act
• Encourage the Heart

So why read Thompson’s book?

Because in a short 200 pages, Thompson takes you to a company’s offsite meeting, filled with people you know (including yourself), to help you to understand that everyone’s is/can/should be a leader.

It proves in a relatable way that leadership isn’t about position. And, most importantly, drives home the fact that it’s not what you do but how you think that counts—leadership isn’t a set of actions - it’s who you are.

I highly recommend The Offsite for those at the start of their business lives as well as for those further along the path. It’s fun; it’s painless; and it will make a difference.