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Ester MartinezCEO and Editor-in-Chief, People Matters
“Leaders are made by hard work and determination—the price one pays to be able to make a difference to people and society. Like all big goals, it starts with one single step. Your First Leadership Job is that one first step for you and builds the foundation of global leadership.”
Linda AldredSenior Vice President, Texas Children's Hospital
“Leadership is work. It takes commitment and courage. The building blocks in Your First Leadership Job are a great launch pad for leaders. Then, you practice, fine-tune, and never stop working on it.”
David R. MacDonald, Ph.D., APA, SIOPHaworth College of Business, Western Michigan University
“In leading, as in so many other disciplines, small changes can result in astonishing impacts. By saying the wrong thing, a leader can crush the ambition of a team member. Conversely, by saying the right thing in the right way, a leader can lift the spirits and performance of a team to unexpected heights. Your First Leadership Job offers tools and techniques for interacting with others in a way that helps them deliver their best performance while enjoying a ton of fulfillment in having done so.”
Peter HopeHead of Leadership Development, Philips International B.V.
“We believe leaders shape great companies, so building great leaders is a key business imperative for Philips. These fundamental interaction skills lie at the very core of leadership.”
Debbie McGrathChief Instigator, HR.com
“This is the first book I have read that offers a practical guide to your first days in management with real-life examples, practical tips, and exercises to help the first-time manager succeed. A must-read for the new manager.”
Pam BenoitExecutive Vice President and Provost, Ohio University
“There are so many leadership books and so little time for new leaders, but if there is one book to squeeze in, it would be Your First Leadership Job. It is a combination of important insights, theory, and research on leadership that follows up with a section that emphasizes mastering the skills. This section is filled with no-nonsense, practical information and examples punctuated with thoughtful questions and checklists that encourage self-reflection for the individual interested in taking on the challenge of being a leader for a living.”
Peter SimsCo-Founder & Managing Director, The Silicon Guild; Author, Little Bets; and Coauthor, True North
“In an era where companies are becoming platforms and ecosystems, the world increasingly needs really good catalysts to lead. This is the first well-researched book I've read that got me asking the important questions for how to become better.”
Eric SchurenbergMedia President and Editor-in-Chief, Inc. Magazine
“Scores of leadership books cross my desk every year, but this has to be the most practical, detailed, and truly useful one I’ve seen in a long, long time. Byham and Wellins definitely know what works in developing leaders in the real world, and that shows through clearly in the book’s practical tips, all-too-true examples, and lucid organization. And no, it’s not just for first-timers.”
J. Scott BostonVice President, Human Resources, Kimberly-Clark
“We've done the research—leaders who build the critical skills and behaviors mentioned in this book succeed far beyond those who do not. First-time leaders who heed this advice show much greater competence and confidence and get better results through others.”
Julie BlustDirector of Learning Management, Cardinal Health
“Our customers’ needs are changing all the time, so our leaders must bring differentiated solutions to create real value for them and be empowered to do so. The catalyst leader concepts addressed in this book are the keys to making great leaders.”
Alison BourneHead of Executive Development, ABF plc
“Stepping into leadership is an exciting and challenging time for anyone. Your First Leadership Job is a valuable and practical resource for any aspiring leader.”
Danny KalmanTalent Management Professional and ICF Accredited Coach
“One of the biggest HR challenges organisations face is to ensure that they have effective and motivated managers. Making the transition into a management role is a daunting one for most people and one for which they often get little support. There is no doubt in my mind that this book will have a global appeal and should be seen as a must-read for those taking on their first management role. I like that it takes a very practical approach with lots of case studies, check-lists, self-assessment questions, reflections, and exercises. I particularly like the chapter on establishing your own leadership brand by being authentic and trustworthy.”
Rebecca L. Ray, Ph.D.Executive Vice President, Knowledge Organization, Human Capital Practice Lead, The Conference Board
“Few career transitions are as difficult as becoming a first-time leader; few books provide such a clear, detailed blueprint to being successful. Rich and Tacy have distilled decades of wisdom in an effort to make great leaders less rare.”
Jack ZengerCEO, Zenger Folkman; co-author of The Extraordinary Leader
“The transition from individual contributor to supervisor or manager is the single most difficult transition for most leaders. This book is a marvelous compendium of practical advice to assist in successfully navigating that move. Building on decades of practical experience, the authors present their wisdom in an easily digestible way.”
Donna PorterManager, Organizational Development and Learning, Whirlpool Corporation
“At Whirlpool, we put millennial new hire sales reps into a house together for 10 weeks and call it the “Real Whirled.” They learn technical skills about our products as well as the interaction skills in this book. Both are crucial to their success. Every new hire, whether a formal leader or not, should read this book.”
Laurie WeingartSenior Associate Dean of Education, Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business
“This book perfectly highlights the skills we know 21st-century MBAs need post-graduation that they don't necessarily learn in b-school. It’s an excellent resource for any new MBA looking to transition from individual contributor to an effective and influential frontline leader.”
Steve SuttonDirector, Regional Delivery Manager / US Country Manager, Volvo Group University
“I had been a manager for several years, and I was missing foundational conversation skills in my leadership style. I really wish I had been exposed to them early in my leadership career. For more than 10 years now, I have put the new skills to work every day. They helped me achieve my success.”
Elke ThammGroup Head of Talent, FTSE 50 Organisation
“A comprehensive and practical guide for anyone who is taking on their first leadership role, complete with tailored advice for women stepping into leadership. A must-read for any newly promoted people manager and a great best practise guide for all experienced people managers who are committed to lifelong learning.”
Heather ReynoldsFirst Commonwealth Bank
“I recently moved into an assistant branch manager role. Although I had some leadership experience, I found the tips and tools in this book to be tremendously helpful. They were my safety blanket to ensure that I got off on the right foot with my team and my manager. This book is a must-read for anyone who was recently promoted and wants to hit the ground running.”
Tony BinghamPresident & CEO, Association for Talent Development (formerly ASTD)
“No one ever sets out to be a poor leader. But it’s that first leadership role that often sets the trajectory for how successful a leader will be. The authors have delivered a book, backed by excellent DDI research, that is packed with insights and actionable steps. It’s a must-read for those who are transitioning into a leadership role and who are committed to achieving excellence.”