New Page 1MASTERING MANAGEMENTSeven Powers of Effective Leaders"The Seven Powers" by Alex
Rovira
ISBN-10: 8496627004 /ISBN-13: 978-8496627000 Written by Alex Rovira, a professor at ESADE (a Spanish business university), "The Seven Powers" is a management text that examines fundamental values that define a good leader These values, says Rovira, are needed by leaders to guide themselves, as well as those in their charge. "Each of these values is fundamental, and normally one value cannot exist without the others," he adds. According to Rovira, these seven values are: *
"Courage is not the simple absence of fear, but the awareness that there is something that is worth the pain of taking risks. Courage converts a threat into an opportunity." The bravest person is not the one who throws himself into a battle that is already lost, but the person who thinks hard about what to do in that situation and figures out the nature of his enemy. *
Responsibility is "the ability to respond to the mistakes, changes, failures and crises that life presents. True success is not possible unless you are responsible, and unless you experience every reversal as a great opportunity to learn." Responsibility leads all of us to weigh multiple possibilities and learn that the correct road is not always the fastest road. Shortcuts can lead us directly into a trap from which it is very hard to escape. *
"Purpose is the will and dedication to turn a dream into reality. Those people who want to do things achieve more than those who merely have the ability to do things." *
"Humility enables us to see things as they are, without the distortions created by the lens of vanity. Vanity blinds, and humility reveals." For Rovira, "Those people who are truly powerful have great humility. They do not try to impress others; their principles are not something that they freely and permanently show off. Their very presence is inspiring and it lifts the spirit. They invite and influence and offer advice to others, but they do not manipulate other people or use coercion, threats or aggression to achieve their ends. They are honest and coherent. They preach with example. They make the effort to know and recognize other people. And, above all, they listen to others." *
"Confidence is what enables us to take on challenges that appear to be impossible and overcome them." Confidence is the strength that brings us higher, so that we can fulfill our own desires. He notes one will fail if one continues to stay in the same place. If one doesn't take risks, one's life will not get better.
* "The greatest of the seven powers is Love, which manifests itself in the collective acts of people when they combine their talents to turn their individual and collective dreams into a reality that serves the common good." Love is closely linked to passion to complete a task and confront a challenge. Love pushes human beings not only to do things for the common good, but also to make every possible effort to do so.
* "Any power that has no foundation in
Unity is a weak power. Without
Cooperation, there is neither progress nor prosperity." In Rovira's opinion, the various powers should not be understood as laws for dominating other people, but as an integrated process for achieving personal excellence and serving others. The leader is especially relevant as the catalyst of a team that must cooperate with one another to overcome any challenge. Rovira maintains that some people don't know about or, at the least don't pay enough attention to these values, therefore limiting their success. "The Seven Powers" presents the keys for engaging our own life's adventure and for summoning the courage to take the reins of our own destiny, be it in business or life in general. When it comes time to dealing with one's own thoughts, actions and feelings, Rovira counsels, "Yours is the challenge; your obligation is to choose. Nobody can decide for you, just as nobody can think, learn or search for you."
(Source: Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania) 
