When Kevin Cashman first published Leadership from the Inside Out a decade ago, it turned leadership development on its head. Cashman’s groundbreaking core argument—that developing the leader requires developing the whole person—represented a radical departure from traditional models, which were transactional management training rather than authentic leadership development. In his book, CEO’s and trainers everywhere found the affirmative model they knew they needed, and they signed on by the thousands.
Cashman’s book has only grown more relevant with time. Since the original volume was published almost a decade ago, mounting research finally has caught up with and validated many of the principles that were practically unthinkable just a decade ago. Research by Goleman, Collins, Zenger and Folkman, Lominger, Korn/Ferry and others now quantifies how deepening personal awareness and interpersonal effectiveness produces more sustainable leadership results; how better behavioral change occurs when coaching follows training; and how all effective leaders must move from content to context to get to the top. It is no longer possible to discount these principles as soft; they produce measurable returns on investment, and they are essential to substantial leadership, team, and organizational success.
In this 10th Anniversary Edition of Leadership from the Inside Out, Cashman brings readers up to date and beyond. He incorporates much of this important research as part of his continuing quest to “make the hard case for soft skills.”