The Crucible's Gift

Book excerpt: The majority of us will spend our working lives being not our best self, but rather a lesser version of our self, often creating a public façade that does not match who we are behind closed doors. And thus, we slowly die by a thousand paper cuts. In an era of inauthentic leaders, the stakes could not be higher for embracing a better version of yourself that propels you and your team to success. In a social media world there is an abundance of false narratives about happiness and authenticity, it is easy to get lost on your journey. Authentic leadership expert Dr. James Kelley shows that the key to personal and professional growth lies in how we respond effectively to adversity. In fact, what causes us and our organizations the most fear can be our greatest gift, creating a positive meaning out of challenges. A test or trial--your individual crucible--gives you the potential to increase self-awareness, develop deeper compassion, live with more integrity and boost connection with colleagues. High-impact leaders thrive in adversity because of their crucibles, not in spite of them. The Crucible's Gift introduces you to lessons from over 140 diverse leaders who demonstrated the art of living more authentically. Combining these rich, raw and insightful stories with his knowledge of business and psychology--as well as his candid accounts of what he has learned from his personal crucibles--Kelley shows how to transform what holds you back into traits that will propel you forward, encouraging you to step fully into your life. The world demands leaders who can accomplish the impossible, delegate effectively and inspire their teams. The Crucible's Gift shows that, provided you're open to receiving it, today's worst situation may be tomorrow's biggest opportunity. No more bullshit excuses.