Book Review: Take the Lead

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Book Review:   Takethe Lead, by Betsy Myers.   NY:  Atria Paperback, 2011.
This is outside my usual scope of Pennsylvania politics, butMyers did a lot of outreach in the 2008 Obama presidential campaign, and wasgracious enough to do an interview with me here on the blog.  I remain impressed enough with that to readher book.
The full title of the book is Take the Lead:  Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best inYourself and Everyone Around You.  It iscomposed of seven chapters, each devoted to a particular character trait:  authenticity, connection, respect, clarity,collaboration, learning, and courage. There is also an introduction, a conclusion, a foreword by David Gergen,and an afterword by Warren Bennis.   Gergen and Bennis primarily vouch for Myers’sabilities.    I liked the “c” chapters best, particularlyclarity.
Myers does write about her work on the Obama campaign, aswell as stories from other aspects of her life. There is something here for everyone. Her discussions of the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives andOutreach were especially interesting.  Myfavorite anecdote was the choice between having an office in the West Wing,with all the cachet that would contain, and larger offices in another location.  The Office went with more spacious butdistant offices because this would allow them to have larger groups of women tocome to their office for meetings and networking.
Many of the suggestions included in her book will seem likecommon sense, but as is so often said, it’s too bad common sense isn’t.   While Myers worldview is a sunny one, herbook is not saccharine.  I enjoyedreading it, though parts of it made me feel my age.  Many of her strategies are more likely toappeal to younger people just starting out than mid or late careerprofessionals.  The collaboration chapterwould be of lively interest to people going into a first job, or a new job orfield.  She doesn't shy away from tough topics, such as encouraging employees whose gifts may lie elsewhere to pursue their dreams in another setting.
She does not limit her view of leadership to those in thecorner office.  Her viewpoint is, in anutshell, “Good leadership Is not about having the most knowledge or power butabout how you make others feel” (fromthe back cover).    From that perspective it is veryrefreshing.   She also writes, in the authenticity chapter,about the importance of being true to yourself. 
This book would make a wonderful gift for a new collegegraduate or a more established person going into a new field or simply wantingto invigorate a longstanding career.    However, anyone researching the importance ofwomen in the electorate would find this a useful resources as well.    I recommend it.