The Book
This book is a self-compassion blueprint for leaders who are closed-off, constantly on the verge of burnout, and/or trapped in the myth of perfectionism.
In today’s breakneck world, we idolize hard-edged leadership, often at the cost of our humanity. Ever felt your leadership is driven more by fear than purpose? Ever drowned in relentless self-criticism? In "Human First, Leader Second," dive into the revolutionary concept of self-compassion, debunking myths that it makes us weak or complacent.
Using the experiences of working with over 3,000 leaders and backed by rigorous research, this book is a clarion call to reclaim our humanity. Because to lead others effectively, we must first lead ourselves with kindness.
Whether you're an entrenched CEO or an emerging leader, learn how compassion towards oneself can catalyze groundbreaking leadership. Take a pause, pick this up, and discover the untapped power of leading from the heart.
So many leadership and compassion books seek to remind leaders to “behave human” and treat those around them with care. But the truth is that leaders are human. They’re not playing at being human or calling forth their humanity on demand. Their struggle in marrying leadership and compassion stems from leaders ignoring self-care—the lack of compassion toward their subordinates is just a symptom.
Human First, Leader Second introduces leaders to the practice of self-compassion through a 6-step framework designed to ease even the most hard-headed and hard-assed leaders into thoughtful, and productive, introspection - showing them how to care for themselves so that they can care for others.
Backward: Biography, Biology, Backstory
Forward: Purpose, Values, Priorities
Inward: Intentions, Feelings, Thoughts
Outward: Intent, Actions, Behaviors
Leeward: Self-care and Personal Accountability
Windward: Regret and Self-forgiveness
Offering strategies for a personalized exploration of self-compassion—and what works best for the individual—this book will help leaders grow awareness to the importance of self-care while debunking the myth that compassion equals weakness. Regardless of our title or influence, we are all humans first, who need compassion.
What readers are saying
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This book is an excellent resource for any leader aiming to look inward at some of their unhealthy tendencies. Personally, I found this book quite challenging because of how often I saw myself on the pages. However, if you are prepared to confront some of your wimps (well-intentioned misinformed protectors) and are willing to do the hard work of looking inward, this is a great resource for you.
Mark M.
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Human First, Leader Second is written in a way that most of my favorite books are - in short, easily-digestible sections. The book is perfect for those times when I only have 5 or 10 minutes to read - minutes that I can put to good use. Women are often reminded to be good to ourselves, to take care of ourselves, so we can take care of others. Massimo Backus certainly underlined this thought on page 162, as he wrote, "Self-kindness isn't a cop-out;it makes you a better person." Amen to that!
Rebecca H.
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I’ve read a lot of books about leadership and improving my leadership skills. This one rises above all the others. I loved the exercises that made me pause and really be honest with myself. It’s time to start focusing on ourselves before we can even begin to lead others.
Jennifer J.