Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm, The 8 Dimensions of Leadership: DISC Strategies for Becoming a Better Leader. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2011.
Referenced in: Strengths-Based Leadership
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is a guide to a helpful leadership profile based on Inscape model of the DISC personality assessment. The Inscape model is similar to the DISC Profile, both of them reflecting the same behavioral styles theory. I make considerable use of DISC in my classes and consulting, and believe it is one of the best tools for self-understanding available.
Using DISC typologies, the authors developed “The 8 Dimensions of Leadership Model.” The eight dimensions are: Pioneering, Energizing, Affirming, Inclusive, Humble, Deliberate, Resolute, and Commanding. They present a four-step process for self-awareness and improvement:
- Discover your primary leadership dimension. This can be done by following the mechanism in the book or by completing an online profile.
- Learn about the psychological drivers, motivations, and “blind spots” typical of leaders with your style. The chapters in part 2 provide a deep dive into the psychological underpinnings of one’s style.
- Reflect on what really matters most in your leadership development right now.
- Once you identify the dimension(s) in which you’d like to grow, learn leadership lessons to help you get there.
The book walks readers through the assessment and growth process. This is followed by an appendix that describes the research behind the DISC model. The book could be improved by showing a more direct correlation between the 8 Dimensions and the DISC model.
From the Publisher
To be an effective leader you need to know your strengths—but that’s only part of the story. You also need a broad perspective on all the behaviors needed to be an effective leader. This book provides both.
Using the third-generation DiSC® online personality assessment—one of the most scientifically validated tools available—The 8 Dimensions of Leadership helps you identify your primary leadership dimension. Whether you are a Pioneering, Energizing, Affirming, Inclusive, Humble, Deliberate, Resolute, or Commanding leader, the authors help you understand the psychological drivers, motivations, and “blind spots” characteristic of your style.
But no single style will take you all the way. A Humble leader may have a hard time making tough decisions. A Commanding leader may run roughshod over potential allies. The authors detail the lessons all leaders can learn from each style, enabling you to craft a multidimensional approach to becoming the leader you aspire to be.
About the Authors
Jeffrey Sugerman, Ph.D., is the president and CEO of Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of training materials for the corporate market. Sugerman brings 20 years of experience in senior management, marketing and business development in the technology, training and publishing industries.
Mark Scullard, Ph.D., is the director of research at Inscape Publishing, where he is responsible for product development, research strategies and data analysis. He has over a decade of research and data analysis experience when it comes to the development of psychological evaluation tools and methods. He has also been an instructor at the University of Minnesota, where his curriculum includes psychology, experimental psychology and research methods and statistics.
Emma Wilhelm, M.S., joined Inscape Publishing in 2008 as part of the product development team. Her publishing career has included work at PhotoAssist, Inc., Acorn Media, and Human Kinetics, and her work has ranged from research, to content development, to acquisitions. Wilhelm left publishing for several years to pursue a career in collegiate coaching and teaching, where she oversaw NCAA and YMCA leadership programs for undergraduates.
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