Catalytic Leadership: Strategies For An Interconnected World

Jeff Luke's book is simply outstanding and a must read for those public leaders interested in advancing the common good.
?John Bryson, professor of planing and public affairs in the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and author of Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations

This groundbreaking guide presents a new kind of leadership that addresses the complex problems facing today's public leaders. These issues?such as economic development, homelessness, teen pregnancy, and many others?are interconnected in nature and have no quick fix solutions. Leaders in federal, state and local agencies must reach out beyond their boundaries to engage a much broader group of stakeholders to create sustainable strategies to address them. The catalytic leader brings together diverse individuals from multiple agencies to address interconnected public problems and work together toward solutions.

Filled with case studies, real-world examples, and many other hands-on resources, Catalytic Leadership is written for the true public leaders?citizens from all walks of life, working together to tackle the toughest public problems.

JEFFREY S. LUKE is director of the Pacific Program for State and Local Government Executives and associate professor of planning, public policy, and management at the University of Oregon. He is co-author of Management Training Strategies in Third World Countries (1987 with J. Kerrigan), Managing Economic Development: State and Local Leadership Strategies (1988 with C. Ventriss, B.J. Reed, and C. Reed) He has been a consultant to a wide variety of federal, state and local government agencies, and has published over twenty articles, papers and chapters on public leadership, strategic planning, and ethics.

THE CHALLENGE FACING PUBLIC LEADERS.

The Interconnected Nature of Public Problems.

Defining Public Leadership.

THE CATALYTIC TASKS OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP.

Raising Awareness: Focusing Public Attention on the Issue.

Forming Working Groups: Bringing People Together to Address the Problem.

Creating Strategies: Stimulating Multiple Strategies and Options for Action.

Sustaining Action: Implementing Strategies and Maintaining Momentum.

THE FOUNDAMENTAL SKILLS FOR CATALYTIC LEADERS.

Thinking and Acting Strategically.

Facilitating Productive Working Groups.

Leading from Personal Passion and Strength of Character.