Breakthrough Leadership Performances as Advocated by Sara Canaday in "Leadership Unchained", Rejecting Traditional Sage Advice

In the ever-changing landscape of business, adhering to traditional practices no longer guarantees success. This is the central theme of Kimberley A. Merritt's book, "Leadership Unchained".

Merritt, an authority on leadership, offers a refreshing perspective on leadership in the contemporary business world. She argues that traditional leadership practices often hinder performance in today's rapidly evolving environment. Instead, she advocates for a new approach: "unchained leadership".

"Unchained leadership" emphasises flexibility, adaptability, and innovative thinking. Merritt outlines several key principles for breakthrough performance, such as embracing uncertainty and ambiguity, challenging established norms and assumptions, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation.

The book provides practical tools for unleashing full leadership potential. It doesn't offer a one-size-fits-all solution but encourages leaders to be transparent, demonstrate engagement, and spark passion in their teams to motivate creativity.

Merritt also highlights the importance of self-awareness and personal growth in becoming an "unchained" leader. She argues that expertise can be seductive and that leaders must embrace what Zen Buddhism calls "the beginner's mind", admitting they don't know everything.

Collaboration is another crucial aspect of unchained leadership. Merritt stresses that collaboration requires cognitive diversity, and she encourages managers to seek out people with different viewpoints to fuel creativity.

Data, while useful, can also be misleading. Leaders must understand when to trust data and when to use their own unique creativity. Facts alone don't persuade people; emotions and experiences change minds.

"Leadership Unchained" doesn't shy away from challenging traditional leadership paradigms. Sara Canaday, another leadership expert, in her book "You - According to Them", introduces the concept of unchained leadership, emphasising its importance in today's business world.

The book also addresses common obstacles to change and offers guidance on overcoming resistance, both internal and external. It provides practical strategies for implementing these principles, including exercises and reflection questions to help readers apply the concepts to their own leadership contexts.

In the end, good leaders inspire people, do what is right even when it's painful, and define their careers by the people they serve, the connections they make, and the relationships they sustain. Unchained leadership is about adapting to change, being flexible, and thinking differently about leadership challenges and opportunities. It's about being ready to question everything, let go of what doesn't matter most, and strive for remarkable business growth.