Dr. David Day, a Professor at Claremont McKenna College and an expert in leadership development, dives into the intricacies of fostering effective leaders. He critiques traditional short-term training programs, advocating for a long-term, systematic approach that emphasizes intrinsic motivation. The conversation highlights the importance of developing leadership skills through everyday experiences and personalized learning opportunities. Day shares insights on the role of feedback and reflection, challenging listeners to commit to continuous growth in their leadership journeys.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Own Your Development
Own your leadership development, regardless of position or access to programs.
Seek informal leadership opportunities and view leadership as a process, not a position.
insights INSIGHT
Long-Term Development
Leader development requires dedicated work over time, not short-term fixes.
Incremental progress through small, consistent actions matters more than big interventions.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Amusement Park vs. Gym Membership
David Day uses the "amusement park" analogy to describe ineffective leadership development.
He contrasts this with the "gym membership" approach, emphasizing consistent effort.
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Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth[2][4][5].
The Power Broker
Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
Robert Caro
This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time. It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks. The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected. It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power. The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics[2][4][5].
Tiny Habits
The Small Changes That Change Everything
BJ Fogg
In 'Tiny Habits,' Dr. BJ Fogg presents a breakthrough method for habit formation based on 20 years of research and his experience coaching thousands of people. The book introduces the 'Behavior Design' approach, which emphasizes the importance of motivation, ability, and prompts in creating new habits. Fogg's method, known as the ABC (Anchor, Behavior, Celebration) method, involves anchoring new habits to existing routines, performing the behavior, and celebrating each success to reinforce the habit. The book provides step-by-step guides and practical techniques to make habit formation easy, enjoyable, and rewarding, helping readers to increase productivity, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
Dr. David V. Day holds appointments as Professor of Psychological Science and Leadership and serves as the Academic Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College in California (USA). He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters, many pertaining to the core topics of leadership and leadership development and is the author of the recent book titled “Developing Leaders and Leadership: Principles, Practices, and Processes.” David received the 2024 Eminent Scholar Award from the Network of Leadership Scholars at the Academy of Management and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Leadership Association.
Quotes From Developing Leaders and Leadership
"Just because an activity is fun or enjoyable does not mean it is developmental. It perpetuates the predominant mindset that leadership development is a like a pass to an amusement park. You go on a bunch of rides, maybe play some games, have a laugh or two, and write it off as your developmental investment in leadership for the year."
"Attending a few workshops or programs spread out over time is not going to do much in terms of developing expert-level leadership. There needs to be an ongoing commitment to practicing one’s leadership to get the time and amount of deliberate practice to become that expert leader."
"The lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of leadership development in for-profit organizations and corporations is unsettling, to say the least."
"Sending a changed person back into an unchanged system tends to be an exercise in futility. A systems perspective incorporates environmental influence into the design and delivery of leader development interventions."
About The International Leadership Association (ILA)
The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025!
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