Once Upon a Leader

About the Authors

Rick Lash and Christine Miners are distinguished executive coaches and leadership experts with a combined experience that spans several decades. Rick Lash, a seasoned psychologist, has spent over 25 years in leadership consulting, focusing on talent management and organizational development. His work has profoundly impacted numerous executives and organizations, helping them unlock their potential through tailored leadership programs. Christine Miners, on the other hand, brings a wealth of experience from her work in organizational psychology and leadership coaching. Her innovative approaches have guided many leaders in discovering and harnessing their inner strengths to drive organizational success. Together, they have authored Once Upon a Leader: Finding the Story at the Heart of Your Leadership, a transformative guide aimed at helping leaders reconnect with their internal narratives to achieve greater effectiveness and resilience.

Main Idea

At its core, Once Upon a Leader explores the concept of the "internal narrator" and its pivotal role in shaping leadership effectiveness. The book delves into how leaders can become the heroes of their own stories by re-engaging and refining their internal narratives. Through engaging stories, research-backed insights, and practical techniques, Lash and Miners provide the tools necessary to update and mature one's internal narrator, ultimately leading to more effective and grounded leadership.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Part 1: Meet Your Narrator
   • A Leader Is Born
   • The Home Of Your Narrator
   • Why We Give Up Authorship
   • Reinvestment On The Road To Personal Transformation
   • What House, M.D. Can Teach Us About Leadership Narrative
   • Are You Ready?
3. Part 2: Finding Your Story
   • Phase 1: Prepare
     • Start with the Foundation
     • Find Your Power Source
     • Get the Outside View
   • Phase 2: Build
     • Get to Work
     • Find the Connections
   • Phase 3: Activate
     • Engage Others
     • Align Teams
4. Conclusion

Analyzing and Explaining Each Idea and Sub-Content

Introduction

Rick Lash and Christine Miners open their book with the notion that every leader has moments of uncertainty where their path forward becomes unclear. During these periods of disruption and transition, it’s crucial to rewrite one's narrative to reclaim the role of the hero in their own story. The authors present their book as a guide to help leaders transform their internal narratives to operate at a higher, more effective level.

As they introduce the concept of the internal narrator, Lash and Miners emphasize its role as the operating system of our minds. This narrator continuously crafts stories about our experiences and identity, influencing how we perceive and respond to challenges. The authors argue that becoming conscious and deliberate authors of our own narratives is essential for effective leadership, especially during times of transition.

Part 1: Meet Your Narrator

A Leader Is Born

The authors argue that every leader develops a core narrative that defines their leadership. This narrative is not just a story they tell others, but a source of personal motivation and action. Research identifies four consistent themes in leaders' narratives: being born leaders, overcoming struggles, finding a cause, and learning from experience. Lash and Miners emphasize the importance of revising this narrative to prevent it from becoming fragmented and outdated.