In a turbulent world, success in leadership can have historical significance and make a distinct impact on the course of action of organizations and individuals. As the road to success is often not an easy one and may be full of both aspirations and disappointments, it is imperative that those wanting to tread that path be familiar with the factors and events which can contribute to leadership success.
Farid A. Muna and Ziad A. Zennie have assumed the task of investigating the development and success of leaders and have provided a concise road map needed to guide those who aspire to be high performers and achieve professional success, while serving their organizations and communities. Their emphasis is mostly on business executives in the Arab Middle East. Early in the book, the authors have made it clear that culture is a pivotal factor in making and shaping leadership and in facilitating or impeding change.
Farid A. Muna and Ziad A. Zennie are uniquely positioned to address leadership success. They are accomplished executives and intellectual entrepreneurs who have, over the years, provided consulting to 1,000 of organizations and their managers and employees. Their involvement in developing and conducting training and management development programs also lends them the authority to speak about leadership success from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
Farid A. Muna and Ziad A. Zennie have divided the book into ten chapters. The first three chapters address the essence of leadership and culture, the framework for leadership success, and the road map for success. While the last chapter provides useful implications and recommendations, the rest of the chapters examine paths to leadership success. In Chapter 4, the authors focus on the early years of potential leaders and concentrate on issues of early life experience and education, upbringing and work ethics, and cultural factors.
Chapters 5 and 6 cover the making of a leader. Though the authors place emphasis on outstanding leaders, one cannot help but conclude that the making of a leader is a complex process and that the label of outstanding is by and large a general one contingent on various factors within and without the organization, along with qualities inherent in the leader. The latter is significantly important in an environment where change is the norm rather than the exception. This may explain why the authors in these two chapters have highlighted the topics of competencies, working smart, career development, personal growth, and cultural sensitivity.
It is in Chapters 7‐9 that the authors differentiate themselves from other authors who address the topic of leadership. In these three chapters, the authors cover in depth the issue of what outstanding leaders do exceptionally well. Four subjects are highlighted: motivational aspects, decision making and accountability, recruiting and cultivating talent, and devising vision and crafting and executing strategies. The content in these chapters place the book apart from others of its kind and readers will find the material thought provoking.
The authors do differentiate between leaders and managers. In terms of styles, they found that leaders, in their study, are mostly democratic, visionary, coaching, and affiliative. In contrast, managers are found to be democratic, visionary, commanding, and peacesetting. These findings in differences between managers and leaders stem not only from the nature of the work but also from their capacity to manage and motivate, control and direct, and develop and aspire.
Though, the book is the result of a field study, the authors have relied on their rich experience and conceptual developments in the fields of management and leadership to systematically analyze and integrate their findings. In fact, the authors have done a great job in highlighting the interplay of various factors which make successful leaders, while focusing on the elements that constitute the foundation for success in leading and in making change not only possible but desirable. While this book is not about the theory of leadership, nevertheless, it can provide researchers with an avenue to develop sound theoretical perspectives and can be an asset for those who study leadership in and across nations.
The book investigates and reflects on leadership in organizations founded in the Middle East. However, its coverage, discussion, conclusion, and implications are cross‐cultural in nature. The book is insightful, thought provoking, and is essential for executives who aspire to do an exceptional job and leave their mark on business history and societal development.
