Leading People: Transforming Business from the Inside Out

Caring, empowerment and social responsibility are words often used in this inspiring and informally written treatise for leaders. The traditional hierarchical structure of corporate management can no longer contain the spin of high-tech transformation with its frequent job and profit losses. The result is that a new manner of leadership is looking inward now, tapping the wisdom of employees, whose hands-on experience is found to hold the key to a better work environment with fewer layoffs and higher profits. Rosen (The Healthy Company), a consultant and researcher, lays out eight principles of good leadership-wisdom, trust, participation, learning, diversity, creativity, integrity and community-and analyzes 36 leaders said to exemplify them. They range in character and occupation from James De Preist, music director of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, to James Rouse, developer of malls and neighborhoods. The book is filled with bits of advice, such as Rouse's admonition ``When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'' Brown is coauthor, with Don Underwood, of Grow Rich Slowly. (Mar.) FYI: Leading People will be the basis of a PBS special of the same name airing in April.