BREATHING OXYGEN

Leadership consultant Barger offers a new simile to discuss different aspects of being an effective leader.

As the title suggests, the premise of this slim book of advice for business leaders is that cultivating good leadership skills is like breathing oxygen: “the process of cultivating the mindset and actions that fuel energy, possibility, connection, and progress while flushing out negativity, blame, and toxins.” Positive thoughts and a growth mindset provide this oxygen, while negativity and a fixed mindset deprive one of it, he asserts. Each chapter describes a key element of such a positive culture, including clarity of vision, inclusivity, agility, grit, rest, and ownership (or accountability). These are admirable ideas and important qualities in a leader; there’s no doubt that if more of them practiced these consistently, there would be more positive team cultures. However, although this book may convince readers that these mindsets matter greatly, it offers little in the way of concrete steps toward achieving them. The chapters feature anecdotes that feel less relevant, such as one about a friend’s airplane conversation with former CBS news anchor Dan Rather in the chapter on inclusivity, in which the latter discusses the difference between skepticism and cynicism. The text is also overly repetitive, with passages such as “And the results follow. They…authentically care for their people and create a meaningful culture. And in doing so, the results follow,” and “What we give our attention to greatly affects what we see. The same thing happens in our everyday lives. What we give our attention to greatly affects what we see.” Overall, this book may motivate readers to think and lead positively, but it doesn’t provide any straightforward strategies or tactics for changing mindsets or cultures.

An earnest guide to leadership motivation but one that lacks many specifics.