The Taboos of Leadership July 24, 2008 The 10 Secrets No One Will Tell you about Leaders and What They Really Think (Wiley, $24.95)
There's a reason that people who are corporate leaders within corporations have been able to rise the social ranks, right? It's because they are fully devoted to the company; nearly-perfect human beings whose only concern is the well-being of the company and its employees; and are individuals with hearts near made of gold. Right?
In The Taboos of Leadership, Anthony F. Smith divulges the realities of leadership and the secrets that leaders cannot publicly admit. Smith acknowledges that charisma shouldn’t make a difference, but it does; that self-interest is dangerous, except for leaders; and that favoring friends and family is wrong, except when it makes a lot of sense.
In the book, Smith breaks down the barriers often creating separation between leaders and followers. He addresses the taboos of leadership, identifying the positive forces and how they can be reinforced, and what negative taboos need to be brought out in the open and done away with.