Book Review: Open Leadership by Charlene Li

From co-authoring Groundswell, to founding Altimeter Group, and now in her newest book Open Leadership available today, it is clear that Charlene Li is one of today’s leading thinkers in the evolution of business.

In Open Leadership How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead, Li goes well beyond the hype of social media and discusses how to transform your organization to lead in the 21^st century. This book is a must read for every executive who remains skeptical to the advantages that being open can offer. She provides practical advice, clear thinking and you’ll find that Li’s writing is intelligent, guiding, and packed with truth and direction.

Early on Li breaks down and discusses what all executives fear about the open web – giving up control. And presents the argument that by conceding and doing so, you actually put yourself and your organization in a position to gain more – with your customers, employees, and partners.

Li puts the focus on how open you need to be, but she does not force your hand in Open Leadership. She does not prescribe one path, nor tell you what not to do. Rather she suggests that it is your decision to determine the depth and breadth of your openness, as well as defining the boundaries and policies that will govern your organization.

In one of the numerous examples and interviews that litter the book, Li  describes her time on the USS Nimitiz and uncovers a US Navy that is “open in some ways but not at all in others.” They promote a culture of openness and sharing and at the same time adhere to strict rules for decision making and operations. There are numerous examples like this that make the read both enjoyable and educational. Each one provides insight to help you begin thinking about how to make your organization more open, and how you can succeed as an open leader.

Bottom line Open Leadership is a must read. Li gives you the framework, complete with audits, checklists, assessment tests, and online resources at www.open-leadership.com to begin your needed transformation.

The question is “Are you ready for Open Leadership?”

Author: Jeremy Victor | Website | Twitter

Jeremy's the founder of Make Good Media and Editor In Chief of B2Bbloggers.com. B2Bbloggers.com is a B2B Marketing online magazine discussing the evolution of B2B marketing. Topics include content marketing, B2B social media, demand generation, marketing automation, and more. Sign up. Get all the articles via email.