A guide to the role of solitude in good leadership, including profiles of historical and contemporary figures who have used solitude to lead with courage, creativity, and strength. Throughout history, leaders have used solitude as a matter of course. Eisenhower wrote memoranda to himself during World War II as a way to think through complex problems. Martin Luther King found moral courage while sitting alone at his kitchen table one night during the Montgomery bus boycott. Jane Goodall used her intuition in the jungles of Central Africa while learning how to approach chimps. Solitude is a state of mind, a space where you can focus on your own thoughts without distraction, with a power to bring mind and soul together in clear-eyed conviction. Like a great wave that saturates everything in its path, however, handheld devices and other media now leave us awash with the thoughts of others. We are losing solitude without even realizing it. To find solitude today, a leader must make a conscious effort. This book explains why the effort is worthwhile and how to make it. Through gripping historical accounts and firsthand interviews with a wide range of contemporary leaders, Raymond Kethledge (a federal court of appeals judge) and Michael Erwin (a West Pointer and three-tour combat veteran) show how solitude can enhance clarity, spur creativity, sustain emotional balance, and generate the moral courage necessary to overcome adversity and criticism. Anyone who leads anyone-including oneself-can benefit from solitude. With a foreword by Jim Collins (author of the bestseller Good to Great), Lead Yourself First is a rallying cry to reclaim solitude-and all the benefits, both practical and sublime, that come with it.

Are you frustrated with how some people ascend the organizational ladder at lightning speed and you can't seem to get on that first rung? Have you ever wondered what are the core skills you need to successfully become an authentic leader? First, Lead Yourself not only tackles the biggest problem in leadership development that holds millions of people back from achieving their full potential, it weaves together the essential ingredients required for your own success as a leader. This book is full of practical tools, exercises and insightful stories that will accelerate you along the path towards achieving your leadership goals. Backed by research into personal change, high performance, resilience, and advanced communication skills, First, Lead Yourself is the perfect guide for anyone looking to step up and lead. This book is amazing. I had so many 'aha' moments. Although not really a self-help book, I've learnt so much about myself from Cillín, I'm now more comfortable being me and more aware of my personal rules, I didn't realise I had so many! The wisdom Cillín shares has enabled me to become more resilient, a better leader, and most importantly, a better parent. Luke Johnstone. Director, Double-O Consulting Working with Cillín as my coach over the last few years, he has taught me many tips, tricks, technique, and strategies to inspect and learn about myself so that I can grow in my own leadership journey. This book is an amazing toolkit collection of those teachings and I, for one, am extremely grateful to have it all put together in one place. I can see that my own copy of this book is going to be well-thumbed through and dog-eared before too long. Cillín's storytelling and real life examples make this book memorable and, most of all, enjoyable to read. June McClintcok. Manager Products, FMG Our team has been fortunate to experience transformational work with Cillín. Now, with First, Lead Yourself, his self-led development approach, mixing stories and exercises, is available to everyone. Stevo O'Rourke. Director, Ocular

Jeff Boss has faced and overcome uncertainty in the most tumultuous circumstances. As a Navy SEAL, he worked in some of the most unforgiving environments on earth and faced enemies that constantly changed, much like today's business landscape. In a world of chaos, how do individuals and teams stay together to find certainty in a world where there is anything but? This book reveals how. Using anecdotal experiences from both the military and business worlds, Boss highlights the mindset and practical steps of how people and organizations can forge certainty amidst inevitable chaos.

"Lead Yourself First makes a compelling argument for the integral relationship between solitude and leadership." --The Wall Street Journal Throughout history, leaders have used solitude as a matter of course. Martin Luther King found moral courage while sitting alone at his kitchen table one night during the Montgomery bus boycott. Jane Goodall used her intuition in the jungles of central Africa while learning how to approach chimps. Solitude is a state of mind, a space where you can focus on your own thoughts without distraction, with a power to bring mind and soul together in clear-eyed conviction. But these days, handheld devices and other media leave us awash with the thoughts of others. We are losing solitude without even realizing it. To find solitude today, a leader must make a conscious effort. This book explains why the effort is worthwhile and how to make it. Through gripping historical accounts and firsthand interviews with a wide range of contemporary leaders, Raymond Kethledge (a federal court of appeals judge) and Michael Erwin (a West Pointer and three-tour combat veteran) show how solitude can enhance clarity, spur creativity, sustain emotional balance, and generate the moral courage necessary to overcome adversity and criticism. Anyone who leads anyone--including oneself--can benefit from solitude. With a foreword by Jim Collins (author of the bestseller Good to Great), Lead Yourself First is a rallying cry to reclaim solitude--and all the benefits, both practical and sublime, that come with it.

Are you ready to be the leader of your own life? We live in a time of unprecedented economic and social turmoil. In the face of uncertainty and fear, we look to our jobs for security and to our leaders for inspiration. We aspire to a prosperous, stable future and strive to remain optimistic, but the stress of simply surviving—financially, professionally, and emotionally—can seem a relentless struggle. Consequently, we doubt ourselves and our capacity to be the leaders of our own lives—often opting for the status quo—because staying stuck is easier than creating change. We overlook this simple truth: If we remain true to ourselves, we can control our own reality. Lead Yourself First! is filled with engaging stories and advice to help people everywhere live life to the fullest and take the lead in any work or personal challenge. By applying Michelle Ray’s simple, powerful life-changing lessons, you will discover how to influence and improve the quality of all your choices. Michelle Ray’s “One-Two Punch” approach will inspire you to: Address the fear of success and eliminate the fear of failure; Rise above toxic behavior and situations; Gain new insights into your values about money, opportunity, and success; Discover your dream career or business and live it!

“In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.” – Ralph W. Emerson Michael Phelps, one of the most decorated Olympians of all time (28 gold medals in swimming), has beaten champions from different countries and comenumerouno with his immense talent and swift swimming. Now, imagine Phelps swimming in a sea and confronting a whale on one side, a shark on the other, and a crocodile farther ahead. It is also raining heavily. Phelps has to avoid the whale, shark and crocodile to reach ashore. To escape them, he has to think, act and swim fast. Somehow, he marshals all his energy and makes a great escape! Incredible yet very much plausible. This is what one confronts in the VUCA World. The HR needs to act quickly to stave off disaster and move ahead swiftly and skillfully. For that, it should be able to adapt, maneuver and stay afloat. HR in the VUCA World is a comprehensive guide for HR to succeed in the VUCA World, with strategies and tips from experts in diverse fields. Right from portraying HR in the VUCA World to capturing emerging trends in the VUCA World, this insightful book provides you all that you need to know about Human Resources in the VUCA World and ways to excel in it.

Have you recently been promoted? Are you ready to become a leader of change? Are you looking for new tools to help you navigate your new path? Lead Yourself First is what you're looking for! Companies around the world are looking for leaders who can lead them through the current changes we are seeing in our global community and into the future. A high price is paid to these skilled leaders and this book will help you find your way as you begin your new journey. Learn to lead yourself through your new changes and then you will be able to strongly lead others. This book will show you how to lead teams through motivation, encouragement, and enthusiasm. Learn how to communicate like the 21st Century Leader you are and how to get things done. In Lead Yourself First, you will build your own Personal and Professional Strategic Plan so you can become a leader of change and secure your successful future. All this and much more to help you become the leader of change!