From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom Acting and Leading with Wisdom

A fresh and timely approach to nurturing wise, resilient, and flexible leadership in a world of growing complexity

Leaders tend to obstinately stick to the leadership style that brought them most success in the past, usually one of two extreme styles: functional leadership that focuses on operational excellence or smart leadership that focuses on growth. When a leader's focus is too functional, the organization becomes introverted and can focus too much on bottom-line profitability while missing out on top-line growth opportunities. But when leaders focus too much on smart leadership, the organization may experience quick growth but lose its effectiveness quickly.

From Smart to Wise offers a new approach that balances the two styles to achieve a form of wise leadership that is both functional and smart. Drawing on inspiring real-life stories of historical and contemporary wise leaders such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and even Mahatma Gandhi, the authors identify six characteristics of wise leaders and offer a practical framework to help readers develop their own style of wise leadership.
* A timely and innovative approach to leadership
* Written by noted speakers who conduct dozens of keynote speeches and workshops, training thousands of people annually

Smart people impress us with their intellectual prowess and uncanny ability to achieve their goals. But smartness is not always enough to succeed as a leader. In From Smart to Wise, Prasad Kaipa, CEO coach and advisor, and Navi Radjou, strategy consultant, propose a new approach to leadership that extends beyond achieving smartness. Wise leadership requires cultivating a broader perspective, responding to external events with discernment instead of reacting instinctively, and operating out of a noble purpose to create value for shareholders as well as society. Organizations led by smart leaders risk sharing the same fate as cars run with a lead foot on the gas pedal: a crash. On the other hand, companies helmed by wise leaders are able to effectively navigate complexity-just as wise drivers navigate their cars through complex traffic by using their brakes as frequently as their  gas pedal. Drawing on inspiring real-life stories of historical and contemporary wise leaders such as Ratan Tata (Chairman, Tata Group), Bill Gates (Chairman, Microsoft), Mahatma Gandhi, John Mackey (CEO Whole Foods), Alan Mulally (CEO, Ford), Narayana Murthy (Chairman, Infosys), and Indra Nooyi (CEO, PepsiCo), the authors identify six capabilities that wise leaders share: Perspective: They have a holistic perspective that integrates diverse-and even polarizing-worldviews. Action Orientation: They act authentically and appropriately for the larger benefit. Role Clarity: They choose to lead either from the front or from behind, allowing others to shine without undue attachment to power and control. Decision Logic: They apply discernment to make decisions that are ethical and yet pragmatic. Fortitude: They know when to let go and when to hold on to power and control. Motivation: They operate out of enlightened self-interest. Based on research and executive interviews that began during Kaipa's tenure at Apple in the 1980s and continued during the authors' 20+ years of consulting and research, FROM SMART TO WISE offers readers a practical framework that allows them to consciously operate as a wise leader every day.

A fresh and timely approach to nurturing wise, resilient, and flexible leadership in a world of growing complexity Leaders tend to obstinately stick to the leadership style that brought them most success in the past, usually one of two extreme styles: functional leadership that focuses on operational excellence or smart leadership that focuses on growth. When a leader's focus is too functional, the organization becomes introverted and can focus too much on bottom-line profitability while missing out on top-line growth opportunities. But when leaders focus too much on smart leadership, the organization may experience quick growth but lose its effectiveness quickly. From Smart to Wise offers a new approach that balances the two styles to achieve a form of wise leadership that is both functional and smart. Drawing on inspiring real-life stories of historical and contemporary wise leaders such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and even Mahatma Gandhi, the authors identify six characteristics of wise leaders and offer a practical framework to help readers develop their own style of wise leadership. A timely and innovative approach to leadership Written by noted speakers who conduct dozens of keynote speeches and workshops, training thousands of people annually