Welcome to the inner lives of leaders. Current leadership literature is more apt to feature practices than practitioners--what leaders do rather than who leaders are. Much of today's leadership literature seems to assume leaders burst forth ready to lead with little introspection or no struggle.

We know better. Our best leaders are anchored in clear values and considered beliefs. They have grown down. And, our best leaders have cultivated their own maturity. They have grown up and are comfortable in their skins. Growing down, growing up: In the pages ahead we trace and weave together
these two master threads.