You Don't Need an MBA: Leadership lessons that cut through the crap

Description

In this moment, we need leaders more than ever. But, as Alicia McKay helps us understand, waiting two years for a piece of paper isn t required to make a difference. Start where you are and start now. SETH GODIN, author of This is Marketing MBAs are old news. In this ground-breaking book, leadership expert Alicia McKay teaches leaders to focus on the things they don t teach you at business school. Leaders are made, not born. But they are not made in the lecture halls and seminar rooms; you don t need an MBA to be an effective leader. They need to get smart, be strategic about the next step and expand their range, to face a complex and uncertain future. They need paradox: clear values and open minds, high performance and meaningful space, dedication to detail and big picture perspective. They need to ask different questions, design different options and most of all, they need to do that with others on the same journey. In this thought-provoking book, Alicia McKay teaches you the five skills every strategic leader needs: How to develop true flexibility How to make good decisions How to develop powerful systems How to drive real performance How to have meaningful influence Drawing on the latest global thinking on leadership, You Don t Need an MBA uses Plain English to demystify the skills leaders of the future need and outlines a way forward; united leadership that focuses on real outcomes, not quick-fixes. Praise for You Don t Need an MBA Credit belongs to Alicia because she is actually in the arena. Read this book if you want a down-to-earth, what-really-works guide to leadership. Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism Accessible, quirky, moving, funny and, above all, practical and applicable. If you are in leadership, or aspire to be, this book should be at the very top of your list of recommended reading. Peter Cook, author of Implement! Read this book and grow or don t, and become slowly irrelevant. It should be an easy choice to make. Colin D. Ellis, author of Culture Hacks

Alicia McKay is a leading voice in strategy, change and leadership. Alicia cuts through the jargon and strikes to the heart of strategy: making smart decisions to do great stuff. Teams and leaders across New Zealand and Australia look to Alicia for strategic leadership expertise. Alicia lifts capability where it counts, unleashing motivated leaders with the skills to have an immediate, meaningful impact. Working with the top tiers of government, leaders value Alicia for her sharp insight, deep expertise and straight talk. Speaker, author, mentor, consultant, broadcaster, public figure, facilitator, trainer and coach, Alicia's thinking epitomises the 'New Zealand way' of strong leadership. Professionally, Alicia is a highly accredited strategy facilitator, communicator and change expert. Personally, Alicia is a champion for brave leadership, driven by her passion for public impact. Alicia is amassing an enthusiastic public and private sector following for her innovative approach to change and leadership. Direct and energetic, Alicia is a popular speaker and broadcaster, regularly addressing audiences across New Zealand and Australia.

'In this moment, we need leaders more than ever. But, as Alicia McKay helps us understand, waiting two years for a piece of paper isn't required to make a difference. Start where you are and start now.' Seth Godin, author of This is Marketing 'Credit belongs to Alicia because she is actually in the arena. Read this book if you want a down-to-earth, what-really-works guide to leadership.' Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism 'McKay is right - you truly do not need an MBA or even an undergrad degree to succeed. What you do need is a structured way to think about building your career, and a good network. This book offers you an approach to building both that is practical and accessible. Most importantly, it's a fun read." Kim Scott, author of Just Work and Radical Candor 'In You Don't Need An MBA, Alicia has deconstructed leadership to the point where it's easy to understand and action. Managers no longer have the excuse of not knowing how to step up - instead, they now have a choice. Read this book and grow... or don't, and become slowly irrelevant. It should be an easy choice to make.' Colin D. Ellis, author of Culture Hacks 'If you want to master leadership and strategy, definitely don't do an MBA. Better to do what Alicia has done and spend two decades deeply immersed in the topic. Sift through the research; read hundreds of books, articles and white papers; think deeply on the topic, speak about it, write about it and teach it. In short, dedicate your life to it. Or, if you haven't got two decades, read this book. It has that very rare elegance and simplicity that only come on the other side of deep thought and hard work. And, as you would expect from Alicia, it's the antithesis of an MBA... accessible, quirky, moving, funny and, above all, practical and applicable. If you are in leadership, or aspire to be, this book should be at the very top of your list of recommended reading.' Peter Cook, founder of The Expert Business