A book about the silent, backstage work of thoughtful leaders who diligently align their strategy and organizations
Leadership development has grown incredibly in the past 20 years
We have filled that space with many (worthwhile) mirrors. Self-awareness training and 360 surveys, coaching on leadership styles, emotional intelligence, public speaking and negotiation tips, etc.
Leaders have many tools today to help them reflect on how they occupy the frontstage, manage impressions, and lead interpersonally.
But that leadership development space has too few windows.
We need leaders who can be honest with themselves, but we also need leaders who can see the reality around them. Leaders who understand that a big part of their work in strategy development requires understanding and shaping the organizational context.
This book is about backstage leadership work. It is about 5 fundamental processes that leaders need to understand, craft, and own in order to develop effective strategies.
1. Scanning and Sensemaking
2. Commitment and Mobilization
3. Maintaining (not dissolving) Contradictions
4. Norm and Culture Building
5. Talent & Capability Development
This work is not always glamorous, it’s seldom in the spotlight, but it reminds us that (senior) leaders have much more impact indirectly, through the way that they shape people’s context. That work is often silent, invisible, and at some distance, but crucial to understand and get right.
“Charles Galunic’s Backstage Leadership: The Invisible Work of Highly Effective Leaders is the perfect antidote to a world that appears to be pre-occupied with celebrating the latest heroic leader.
Galunic provides an insightful perspective on what it really takes for a leader to deliver long term sustainable performance, highlighting the importance of cultivating personal and organisational ambidexterity.
This book is a must read for CEOs and executives that are trying to strike the right balance between delivering on near term operational realities whilst adapting for future success. It outlines the critical invisible work successful leaders must perform on the culture and the organisational capabilities that underpin the successful execution of strategy, but rarely feature in the media headlines.”
“The compelling thread here is that the path to successful firm performance passes through the mastery of subtle organizational processes. The grandstanding leader may get the initial headlines, but the organizational conductor achieves the lasting performance. Leading, Front and Back is THE book for managers who take the “long view” of building a stellar organization.”
“Galunic’s compelling stories and studies show that the “real work” of leadership focuses on getting small, mundane, and often unnoticed actions right—and that the antics of flashy visionaries are often overrated. Backstage Leadership is packed with wise advice for leaders who are determined to build structures, processes, and cultures that fuel successful and enduring business strategies.”
“This book tells you something other books don’t. The “invisible” role of every CEO and why it is so crucial for long term success in a rapidly changing world. Read it, learn it, use it.””
“This book shows in a unique way how leadership needs to take “behind-the-scenes” work seriously and provides valuable insights- it’s about how leadership really works. The CEO may need to take the role of “a Rockstar,” on the frontstage of the organization, but the CEO must also work backstage to be successful, and Charlie Galunic’s book demonstrates that both roles are needed and linked. The success in building a high performance organization with a clear and strong “spirit” is 80 % the result of such hard work behind the scenes. Charlie Galunic utilizes his vast experience to show that in this sense backstage leadership is the thing that matters most.”
“I’ve had the distinct honor to work and collaborate with Charles over many years. I’ve particularly valued his insights and excellent advice on developing a company and leadership culture that hinges on supporting talents. In this book he once again demonstrates his unique way of approaching organizational thinking, both as an academic and as a practitioner. Thereby, he provides great insights, supported by numerous examples, on how to develop, shape and strategically align an organization and its culture – not in the traditional limelight, but backstage, where the real work is done. This book is a helpful and inspiring guide for young talents, as well as managers, looking to develop knowledge and skills as a “backstage leader.” In a constantly changing world, this is a key mindset for collective leadership.”
We learn by looking inside
….but only in context, when we look outside as well
We have impact directly,
but also indirectly
Leaders shape contexts
which shape behaviour
which impacts outcomes.
Podcast describing the book
The Business Times
Singapore Business Daily
The Edge Singapore
July 30 2020
Forbes
Adi Gaskell, Aug 20, 2020
“Investing In People Builds Resilience Against The Covid Recession”
BizTimes Maeil Business Korea
Work. Journal
September 2020
LesEchos
Oct 6 2020
Indian Management Magazine
October 2020
Mundo Empresarial (Brazil)
Dec 2020