How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact - Paperback

How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact

This leadership book reveals how positive leaders dramatically expand their teams' capacity for excellence without massive expenditures or grand gestures. Compiled by Jane E. Dutton and Gretchen M. Spreitzer from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, this collection brings together insights from leading scholars in organizational psychology and positive leadership.

Expert Contributors and Research-Backed Strategies

The book features contributions from Adam Grant, bestselling author of Give and Take, alongside positive organizational scholarship movement cofounders Kim Cameron and Robert Quinn, plus thirteen additional scholars. Their combined research demonstrates how simple actions and attitude shifts create profound organizational change.

Real-World Applications from Leading Companies

The strategies outlined are currently being implemented at major organizations including Wells Fargo, Ford, Kelly Services, Burt's Bees, Connecticut's Griffin Hospital, and Michigan's Zingerman's Community of Businesses. These case studies provide concrete examples of positive leadership principles in action across diverse industries.

The Butterfly Effect in Leadership

The book introduces the concept that small leadership actions create ripple effects throughout organizations, similar to the butterfly effect in chaos theory. This approach makes transformative leadership accessible to managers at all levels, not just C-suite executives.

Practical Focus on Organizational Effectiveness

Rather than theoretical frameworks, this book emphasizes actionable strategies for business development and organizational effectiveness. The content addresses real management challenges with solutions tested in actual business environments.

About the Authors

Jane E. Dutton serves as the Robert L. Kahn Distinguished University Professor of Business Administration and Psychology at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. Gretchen M. Spreitzer holds the position of Keith E. and Valerie J. Alessi Professor of Business Administration at the Ross School of Business, where she codirects the Center for Positive Organizations. Their academic credentials and research focus on positive organizational scholarship provide authoritative backing for the methodologies presented.

Publication Details

Published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers in paperback format, this business and economics title offers accessible insights into leadership development and organizational management. The book serves as a resource for managers, executives, and anyone seeking to improve their leadership effectiveness through evidence-based positive practices.