In Extremis Leadership

This volume describes how extreme life-and-death leadership skills can benefit leaders in any setting. Using lessons drawn from observing and participating in these extreme contexts, as well as interviews with leaders and followers, Kolditz details key characteristics, how they can be applied to situations in everyday life, developing them in others, how emotions play a role in situations, and coping with the tragedy of death in an organization. Case studies of some are included, such as the chapter on the US Military Academy parachute team. The conclusion presents brief biographies of leaders and followers who influenced the development of the concept of the book. Kolditz (behavioral sciences and leadership, United States Military Academy at West Point) is a colonel who has served in military tactical command and technical staff assignments and as an analyst at the Pentagon. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
In this extraordinary book Col. Kolditz explains that his research on in extremis leadership, where followers perceive their lives to be threatened, reveals that the leadership lessons and principles in evidence in dangerous settings also apply to leading in business and everyday life. The book shows how leadership literally defines the promise of hope or future life and that extremely capable leaders are needed in all walks of life. The book describes a variety of high-risk situations that are ideal settings to seek and find great leaders, assess how they might be different, and to glean valuable insights for extraordinary leadership in our everyday lives. Through heart-stopping real-life stories of leaders in these extreme situations, Kolditz insists that leaders at all levels can improve their effectiveness.