Front-Line Leadership
How to Eliminate Complacency and Build All-In Engagement
1. Edition July 2024
240 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Expand your leadership toolkit and help others achieve their full potential with these empowering stories and lessons from the battlefield
In Front-Line Leadership: How to Eliminate Complacency and Build All-In Engagement, experienced leader and veteran Patrick Nelson delivers an inspiring and exciting discussion of real-world leadership that changes lives and gets results. Born out of his experience as a paratrooper in the US Army--where he led soldiers during three combat deployments and earned a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart--the book will explore first-hand accounts of the author's time in combat that shed light on how you can lead men and women in academic, business, non-profit, military, and governmental settings.
The book offers deep insights into developing a growth mindset, service-based leadership, forward-looking accountability, and how to build self-awareness. The stories within make it clear that leadership is not just a position or title, but rather the behaviors that we demonstrate. Additionally, each chapter culminates with a practical takeaway for the reader to challenge themselves daily. You'll also find:
* Strategies for getting "unstuck" in your personal and professional life
* Techniques for developing a clear understanding of who you are and what you can bring to an organization as a leader
* Ways to propel your leadership skills forward by focusing on what you can offer others, instead of what others can give you
Perfect for managers, executives, directors, and other business leaders, Front-Line Leadership is also a must-read for active military service members, non-profit professionals, government workers and leaders, athletes, teachers, and anyone else tasked with shaping and encouraging the efforts of others.
Part I Leading Yourself 1
Chapter 1 Discover and Ignite Your Purpose 3
Purpose Is Your Journey, Not Your Job 6
Proactively Pursuing Opportunities 6
Committing to Your Path 9
Changing Your Course 11
Handling Adversity While Finding Your
Purpose 15
Your Challenge 18
Chapter 2 Embracing a Growth Mindset 19
Understanding Your Own Expectations 22
Managing Your Reactions 24
Growing Through Who You Know 27
Your Challenge 30
Chapter 3 Practicing Resilience 31
Getting Bad News 33
Holding Space and Emotional Intelligence 36
Surrounding Yourself with the Right People 39
Maintaining Perspective 42
Your Challenge 46
Chapter 4 Continuous Improvement 47
Learning While Working 50
Seeking Out New Opportunities 53
Transitioning Development Is an
Ongoing Journey 55
Being SMART About Setting Goals 58
Your Challenge 60
Part II Leading Teams 61
Chapter 5 Leading by Example 63
Incoming! 66
Setting the Example 71
Putting It into Practice 75
Your Challenge 77
Chapter 6 Service-Based Leadership 79
Willingness to Learn 81
Leading Alongside People 83
Building Authentic Relationships 84
Having Difficult Conversations 87
Intimidating People Isn't Leading
Them 90
Your Challenge 91
Chapter 7 Motivating Others 93
What Is Motivation? 95
Meet Greg 96
Getting Back in the Fight 98
Intrinsic Motivation and Extrinsic Motivation 100
Driven by Values 103
How Motivation Works 108
Your Challenge 109
Chapter 8 The Art of Delegation 113
Delegating to Grow 115
Why Delegate? 117
Challenges to Delegating 119
How to Delegate Effectively 121
Your Challenge 125
Part III Leading the Culture 129
Chapter 9 Creating a Culture of Accountability 131
Learning the Hard Way 134
Forward-Looking
Accountability 136
Taking Accountability in the Heat of the Moment 138
Guiding Principles of Accountability 142
Rolling with a Culture of Accountability 145
Your Challenge 148
Chapter 10 Building a Positive Workplace Culture 151
Why a Positive Workplace Culture Matters 153
When a Workplace Culture Has Problems 155
When a Workplace Culture Works Well 156
How to Make a Difference 158
The Power of Respect and Recognition 160
Your Challenge 166
Chapter 11 Engaging and Empowering Others to Lead Cultural Change 169
Engage and Empower 171
Iron Fist 173
Turning the Culture Around 175
Working Together 178
Case Studies 181
Shifting a Safety Culture 183
Your Challenge 185
Chapter 12 Making a Difference 187
Part I: Leading Yourself 189
Part II: Leading the Team 190
Part III: Leading the Culture 192
Your Journey 193
Acknowledgments 195
About the author 197
Index 199
--Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal
"During my Naval Service, I learned that success hinges on the fundamental principles of leading oneself, one's team, and shaping a thriving culture. Patrick Nelson encapsulates these foundational principles with unparalleled clarity and depth in Front-Line Leadership, illuminating the path to success with wisdom distilled from the front lines. Nelson's insights will ignite your potential and propel you toward greatness, whether you're a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader."
--John R. Miles, author of Passion Struck and host of the Passion Struck podcast
"Patrick Nelson's Front-Line Leadership delivers invaluable insights gleaned from real-world combat experiences, resonating deeply with my own work on We Were Soldiers. His emphasis on growth mindset, service-based leadership, and accountability transcends military contexts, offering practical wisdom for leaders in any field. Nelson's authentic storytelling and actionable takeaways make this book essential reading for those committed to unlocking their leadership potential. I highly recommend it to anyone striving to make a meaningful impact through principled leadership."
--Randall Wallace, writer, producer, director, We Were Soldiers, Braveheart, Pearl Harbor
