Abstract
The book has an intriguing title, a title that immediately grabs attention. Leadership With Soul is a practice often discussed but rarely seen. The author, André Lacroix, a stalwart supporter of the corporate sustainability movement, shares the model for his success in this book. He introduces the topic using anecdotes from his childhood, where he shares the experiences and interactions that shaped his beliefs. These anecdotes distinctly outline his empathetic orientation and immediately create a bond between the reader and the author. André shares 10 leadership principles that have been applied by him in various industries. These principles can act as a roadmap for any organization that aims to work empathetically and sustainably. The issue that the author addresses is extremely relevant in present times when corporations embark on an arduous journey towards sustainability.
The author uses a narrative tone of writing to engage the reader. What makes the story-telling even more interesting are the examples that the author shares from his own experience of working with world-renowned brands such as Disney, Burger King and Intertek among others. Even though in most anecdotes the author talks about the success of his strategy, he also unabashedly shares accounts of failures, making the read more relatable. These factual experiences also add validation to the author’s suggestions. Throughout the book, one can notice the genuineness and passion with which the book is written. The energetic tone of the author fills the audience with a can-do attitude.
Through this book, the author tries to converse with the leaders of today, whether they are leading an MNC or a start-up. Even though the book is targeted at the leaders of any organization, this book is a good read for most. For employees, this book can act as a source of motivation to work hard and grow. For educators, this book is a reminder to sensitize students regarding the social implications of their strategies. For students, this book elucidates that the top and bottom lines can be adhered to even in an empathetic and sustainable organization.
The book is organized very systematically to facilitate understanding. It is majorly divided into 10 chapters, where each of the 10 leadership principles transmutes into individual chapters. Within each chapter, the author outlines specific sub-activities that are necessary to comply with the mentioned principle. He also substantiates his claims by providing real-world applications of these sub-activities. This enriches the reader’s understanding of these principles and the associated complications. At the end of each chapter, the author shares the key takeaways that neatly summarize the whole conversation.
Certain key themes emerge in all the chapters. The author emphasizes the importance of clarity in communication with all stakeholders. He suggests that leaders should be transparent and honest with all stakeholders, whether it be employees, investors or customers to ensure a match between expectations and deliverables. He also supports the idea of regular interaction with stakeholders to improve engagement. The author strongly propagates that leaders should be personally invested in all activities of the organization and also states that this should not be confused with micromanagement. As per his experience, leaders who lead from the front inspire and motivate employees and earn the required support from them. The author also highlights the importance of basing strategic decisions on data and suggests that data, qualitative and quantitative, should be gathered from every source possible. Another valuable recommendation from the author is to focus on the organizational culture. Creating an appropriate culture is necessary to achieve organizational goals such as sustainability, customer orientation and continuous innovation. Such values need to be embedded in the organizational culture. Lastly, the author encourages leaders to identify and grab growth opportunities and meanwhile, ensure that the organization possesses the required capabilities to act swiftly in such cases.
Overall, the book is an interesting read. The intricate integration of strategic principles and real-world examples is effective in explaining the concepts. Despite being targeted at leaders and managers, the book is not loaded with jargon and thus, quite easy to read for any audience. The author devotedly discusses an immensely relevant issue of sustainable growth and the role that leaders can play. His dedication towards creating organizations that value people and their contributions comes across clearly. His passion for the topic is almost infectious and made me curious enough to read more about his work. This book is a must-read for people who are curious to know the practical and realistic perspective on ‘sustainable growth for all’.