Growing Influence: A Story of How to Lead with Character, Expertise, and Impact
Ron Price and Stacy Ennis
Greenleaf Book Group Press (September 2018)

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”  African proverb

Ron Price and Stacy Ennis make effective use of the narrative format in order to anchor their key points in human experiences with which most readers can identify. Briefly.here’s the situation. A thirtyish executive named Emily has been passed over several times for promotion that she believes she has earned and thus deserves. What’s the problem? The answer to that question is gradually revealed over a period of time during which she becomes friends with an older executive, a former CEO, name David. He serves as her mentor. The details of the plot are best revealed within the narrative, in context. However, it would not be a spoiler to suggest that the narrative never seems contrived, developments are plausible, and Price and Ennis  and “make haste slowly” while Emily struggles to resolve her frustrations.

I selected the African proverb to serve as the title of my brief commentary because, with rare exception,  high-impact executives exemplified by David — those who reach what Jim Collins characterizes as Level 5 — cherish opportunities to help others accelerate their personal growth and professional development. Stated another way, great leaders resemble gardeners in that they have a “green  thumb” for “growing” leaders and then when they develop their own green thumb….you get the idea.

Obviously, Emily’s primary function is to address issues and ask questions that many readers have; David’s primary function is to respond with the knowledge and wisdom that serve as the substance of the narrative. David explains so that Emily and the readers can increase their understanding of what great leadership is and isn’t, of course, but also which specific values are of greatest importance to human relationships within and beyond a workplace culture.

So, who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? My guess is that they would include those now preparing for a career in business or who have only recently embarked on one. Next, I would include relatively inexperienced middle managers who are beginning to have supervisory responsibilities. Add those who conduct formal training programs that devote substantial attention to leadership development.

Finally, I highly recommend this book to all the leaders and managers out there who do little (if anything) to “grow” the direct reports entrusted to their care. You know who you are. You know you need to improve. It’s time to go far together. Here are the questions that Hillel the Elder offers for your careful consideration: “If not you, who? If not now, when?”