Drawing on a dozen years of research among managers, officers, and politicians in the public realm and the private sector, among the nonprofits, and in teaching, Heifetz presents clear, concrete prescriptions for anyone who needs to take the lead in almost any situation, under almost any organizational conditions, no matter who is in charge, His strategy applies not only to people at the top but also to those who must lead without authority—activists as well as presidents, managers as well as workers on the front line.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-337) and index.

Part I.Setting the frame -- Values in leadership -- To lead or mislead? -- The routs of authority -- Part II. Leading with authority -- Mobilizing adaptive work -- Applying power -- On a razor's edge -- Falling off the edge -- Part III. Leading without authority -- Creative deviance on the frontlines -- Modulating the provocation -- Part IV. Staying alive -- Assassination -- The personal challenge.