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Immediate Release Developing the Ideal Leader for 21st Century Organizations is the Heart of the Newly-Published: “Apples Are Square: Thinking Differently About Leadership.”
Chicago, IL—In their newly-published book “Apples are Square: Thinking Differently about Leadership,” leadership and innovation authors Dr. Susan Smith Kuczmarski and Thomas Kuczmarski reveal the results of their five-year search for characteristics of the ideal 21st century leader. In this groundbreaking work, they call for a sharp break with the “control and compete” style so typical of organizations in years past, in favor of a new approach that puts people first and leads to higher performing organizations across every dimension of performance. The authors identify six critical values that are changing the way successful people lead and succeed. They present seven steps to take that can lead a person to understand and implement the critical values. “We did not search for one person who represents the ideal leader,” says Susan Kuczmarski. “We believe that effective leaders reflect a number of different characteristics, often in different ways—personal qualities that draw the very best from people who are working together in an enterprise.” In the course of their work, the Kuczmarskis interviewed more than 100 people who demonstrate approaches to leadership that break with top-down traditions of the past. Ultimately they settled on 25 people for the in-depth interviews that are central to the book’s narrative. The leaders come from the corporate, academic, nonprofit, and government sectors, as well as from the world of entertainment. (Complete list follows.) Among those whose views are central to “Apples Are Square” are Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist; Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway vehicle and president of DEKA Research; Carol Bernick,Chairman of the Board and Director of Alberto Culver; Dipak Jain, dean of the Kellogg School of Management; the actress Susan Anton; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; former NASA astronaut Mary Ellen Weber; and Christopher Zorich, former Chicago Bear linebacker and founder of the Christopher Zorich Foundation. It was Zorich who gave the book its unusual title. Growing up in Chicago’s public housing, Zorich told the tale of his mother cutting the brown spots off apples she had scavenged, leading Zorich to think as a child that “apples are square.” “It was a perfect way to express so much that is central to our book,” said Thomas Kuczmarski. “We all know about the control, compete, and compare style of leadership. We believe that approach is out of date and counterproductive. What we propose is radically new—six uncommon qualities of leadership that can transform a workplace. The 25 people we interview are, like the square apple, outside the ordinary. Many of them have never been on magazine covers, or on the talk show circuit. Yet they set a direction and style of leadership that is all about the people in an enterprise, not about the leader.” The Six Values
The Seven Steps Necessary to Bring About Change The seven steps begin with reaching out to serve others as a way of developing a service-oriented mindset. Others include learning one’s personal values, a precursor to the importance of learning the values of those one works with. The authors emphasize the importance of finding common ground through questions such as “Who are we?” and “What are our needs?” A step called “Don’t take the pleats out,” encourages people to express inner feelings and creative thoughts and not lose the fervor and passion that should drive an organization. Learning to “root for people” helps employees develop their potential and build a caring team. The seventh step, one unusual in the world of business, is to “leave some money on the table.” According to the Kuczmarski’s, success does not always mean extracting the last dime from a business deal. They tell the story of Henry S. Givray, Chairman and CEO of SmithBucklin Corporation, the worlds largest association management company. In selling a high tech firm earlier in his career, Givray passed up a $1 million payout asking instead that it be distributed to shareholders. “I did what felt right,” said Givray, “and it was easy for me because I have always believed that doing things that are right is a much more powerful guide than doing things to derive a specific award.” “Apples Are Square,” is a guide for people seeing an approach to leadership beyond the top-down traditions of management, a leadership style that embraces people and is rooted in values. It is based on the belief that such organizations will, in the long run, outperform the competition while providing a life rich with meaning. Website: www.ApplesAreSquare.com About the Authors: Dr. Susan Smith Kuczmarski is an educator, lecturer, and authority on values-based leadership. Trained as a social scientist, she has done extensive research on how leadership skills are learned. She has taught at seven universities, worked in three nonprofit organizations, including the United Nations, and co-founded an innovation consulting firm, Kuczmarski & Associates, in Chicago. She is the author of two award-winning books, The Family Bond and The Sacred Flight of the Teenager. A teacher of teachers for ten years and well-known for her innovative style, Dr. Kuczmarski conducts interactive workshops and seminars on leadership, teams, and culture for corporate, nonprofit, and educational groups. She is a recognized teen, family, and leadership expert, and a lively radio and television guest, viewed by international audiences. She holds a Doctorate in Education and two master's degrees from Columbia University in New York City, where she was named an International Fellow, and an undergraduate degree form Colorado College. She was recently selected for inclusion in 500 Leaders of World Influence, Outstanding People of the 21st Century, 2000 Outstanding Writers of the 20th Century, and International Who's Who of Professional and Business Women, and has been listed in Who's Who in the World for twelve years. Thomas Kuczmarski is Founder and Senior Partner at Kuczmarski & Associates, a nationally recognized new products and services and innovation management consulting firm. He has written three books on innovation, including Managing New Products, Innovation, and Innovating the Corporation. He co-founded, with the Chicago Sun-Times, the annual Chicago Innovation Awards. For the past 27 years, he has been an adjunct professor of New Products and Services at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where he teaches his popular graduate and executive courses on innovation. He was a brand manager at Quaker Oats and a principal at Booz, Allen & Hamilton. He holds two masters degrees in business and international affairs from Columbia University, and a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross. He is regularly quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Newsweek, Investor's Business Daily, USA Today, Advertising Age, and the Chicago Sun-Times. He has appeared on the Today Show, and speaks on the topic of innovation around the world. His research, writing, books, speeches, seminars, teaching, and pragmatic consulting have made him one of the top leading experts in his field. Married for three decades, the authors live in Chicago and are the parents of three sons. The 25 Leaders Corporate, Entrepreneurial and Business Worlds Academic World Non-Profit Sector Entertainment Industry Public Policy Sector Personal Empowerment Government Sector Contact: ### |
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