“John Mattone understands that truly great leadership always starts on the inside. More than that, John is a master of helping people discover and cultivate their innate leadership potential through advice that is both practical and profound. His new book, The Intelligent Leader, beautifully illuminates the heart of great leadership through seven secrets that can have the biggest and brightest impact on the world.”
—Deepak Chopra, author, You Are the Universe
“Great leadership is rare. The reason is simple—most people don't have a methodology for developing their leadership skills. In his new book, John Mattone skillfully and succinctly fills that void. It is a must-read for those in any walk of life who want to enhance their leadership skills and have fun doing so.”
—Hap Klopp, founder, The North Face; author, Almost: 12 Electric Months Chasing A Silicon Valley Dream
“John has composed the go-to guide for leaders, new and experienced. He has distilled his wisdom into easy-to-follow modules for leaders to be both effective and inspiring. He covers everything from self-concept, influencing others, daily skills, development, culture, and courage. This book should sit on every leader's desk.”
—Dr. Marcia Reynolds, author, The Discomfort Zone: How Leaders Turn
Difficult Conversations into Breakthroughs
“In The Intelligent Leader, John Mattone shares wisdom from his years of executive coaching in a practical and thought-provoking guide for leaders at all levels. His leadership framework is both elegant in its simplicity and profound in its depth. If you have a genuine desire to dive deep, ask hard questions, and do what it takes to achieve your potential as a leader, the insights in this book will equip you well for the journey.”
—Kathy Mazzarella, chairman, president, and CEO, Graybar
“It's rare that you come across wisdom so clear and compelling that it shocks you out of your day-to-day mindset and shows you the possibility of doing something truly remarkable with your life and career. John Mattone does just that with his new book, which stands out among the many leadership titles as a rare gem of deep and practical guidance on the path to becoming a better leader—and human being.”
—Raül Ibáñez, ESPN baseball analyst and former MLB All-Star
“This fast-moving, practical book shows you how to take complete charge of your life, achieve your goals, and get more done than ever before.”
—Brian Tracy, author, How the Best Leaders Lead
“A masterful and heartfelt exploration of what it means to be an Intelligent Leader. John Mattone guides us through the seven essential traits of a contemporary leader's inner journey, taking the reader deep into the core strength of vulnerability—one of the book's fascinating paradoxes—toward inspired action, self-fulfillment, and creating a lasting legacy. The tone is personal, rich with experience, and authentic. An essential book for our times.”
—David Clive Price, author, Bamboo Strong and The Age of Pluralism
“With so many books coming out on leadership every year, it's rare to read one that brings something truly new and unique to the table. The Intelligent Leader does just that. Mattone combines a deep exploration into the heart of what makes great leaders great, with a practical guide that anyone can use to unlock their own potential. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to become a better leader—and human being.”
—Dan Hoeyer, founder and CEO, LeadersExcellence
“As an entrepreneur, I've found developing my leadership capacities to be one of the biggest—and most fulfilling—challenges I've faced. John's wisdom and guidance have been invaluable to that process, and his latest book illustrates why. Like few others I've read, this book gets to the authentic heart of the leadership journey—its difficulties and rewards—and gives the reader an intelligent perspective and path to discovering what it looks like to lead in their own unique life and career.”
—Rohit Mehrotra, founder, Active Cyber
“John Mattone once again provides a very fresh perspective on leadership, and as he always does, making it practical, actionable, and learnable. His new book shows how true leadership starts from the inside. It gets to the heart of
leadership!”
—Tiger Tyagarajan, CEO, Genpact
“John Mattone has evolved his Intelligent Leadership model to manifest this very complete step-by-step manifesto on how you can nurture your core leadership to drive measurable results while enjoying life and work in the process… Wow!”
—Arthur Carmazzi, author, 6 Dimensions of Top Achievers;
founder, DC Psychology
“John Mattone has done it again. In his new book, he lays out a framework and guide for cultivating and realizing your full leadership potential. Using his seven dimensions of Intelligent Leadership, John helps you bridge your inner core (your character, values, and mindset) with your outer core (your personality, skills, and competencies). This bridge will help you transcend your current level of leadership and reach new levels of influence and impact, all while creating your legacy. Doing this deep work will help you unleash your personal version of the ‘X factor' of leadership.”
—JD Meier, author, Getting Results the Agile Way
“We are living in dramatic times where machine intelligence is challenging human intelligence. John Mattone highlights seven key leadership practices for intelligent leaders to make a difference. This is a must-read book for leaders looking for the right mind-set to get ahead in the artificial intelligence era.”
—Alper Utku, president, European Leadership University
“John Mattone has, for years, been developing the most relevant executive coaching techniques. CEO's, corporate leaders, and politicians have sought his counsel to refine their skills as valued assets in the boardroom and community. His extensive knowledge in this field has culminated in this latest work. I highly recommend this book for those looking to develop a competitive edge to pave the road for success.”
—Dr. Donovan Essen, DDS, MBA, founder, Essen Dentistry
“John touched the hearts and minds of over 3000 attendees at our 2019 Pendulum Summit in Dublin with his passionate delivery and authenticity, bringing his A game to the stage. He's done it again with his new book! It is a must-read for any person who wants to discover the pathway to achieving more and living a more enriched life—and, who doesn't want that?”
—Frankie Sheahan, founder and CEO, Pendulum Summit
“John is a highly regarded authority on the topic of leadership and his new book is an excellent resource for leaders wishing to step up their game. It distills the wisdom and know-how he has accumulated through the years into an elegant and straightforward read. The Intelligent Leader is buzzing with his energy and contains many transformational lessons.
John takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery to uncover the leader within. He is honest and open about the challenges of becoming an exemplary leader in an exacting world. Yet the reader is left with no doubt that the seven secrets he espouses work in the real world and are applicable for exemplary leaders of the future.”
—Dr. Peter Chee, president and CEO, ITD World
“If you want to lead others more effectively, John Mattone's book, The Intelligent Leader, is a must-have.”
—Brenda Bence, author, Would YOU Want to Work for YOU?
“The Intelligent Leader hits at the core of executive development. In his latest book, John Mattone provides a game plan for executives throughout the world to enhance the way they lead. His approach challenges leaders to make their development a priority so that their culture will thrive as they continually enhance their leadership toolbox. This book should be required reading for executives at all levels who want to lead their teams to success.”
—Bryan Powell, PCC Executive Coach and director at Merrill Lynch
“As you read The Intelligent Leader, if you're a seasoned leader, you may find yourself frequently saying, like I did, ‘John, why didn't you write this book years ago; I would have had greater success and a much more fulfilling career!' If you're new to leadership, you should study, embrace, and live The Intelligent Leader. John explores the interplay between our inner core and our outer core through the seven dimensions of Intelligent Leadership, creating an incredibly clear path for you to become your greatest as an individual, while inspiring greatness in those around you. The Intelligent Leader is not simply a book on business leadership, it is a guide on personal transformation that transcends cultures, generations, and professions. We are challenged and then taught how to discover the gifts and strengths we have within ourselves—that may have been hidden to us our entire lives—and use them to create the most positive impact in our world.”
—Susan Ryan, Master Certified Intelligent Leadership Coach
“John Mattone is one of the world's most respected leadership gurus and he shares his wisdom in this beautiful book. John provides an insightful and compelling framework for leaders trying to navigate the challenges and triumphs of leadership. This book is such an interesting and enjoyable read that you might not notice how much you're learning. Whether you're already in a leadership role or you are an aspiring leader, you will find a wealth of fresh insights, approaches, and practical advice as you learn the seven secrets that will help you become a better leader and a better person.”
—Chester Elton, co-author, All In, The Carrot Principle, and The Best Team Wins
“My singular and most unfortunate regret is meeting my cousin John and his extraordinary talent too late! This latest book, in particular, would have helped me to attain my accomplishments in finance and real estate immensely much faster. Nevertheless, we both agree it's never too late.”
—Joseph Mattone, chairman, Mattone Group, LLC
“In an era when leaders need to develop an ability to integrate the complexity of the outside world with an understanding of the intricacies of the human inner landscape, John Mattone offers a remarkable tool to explore the different dimensions leaders need to embody to address the defining challenges of our time. The Intelligent Leader is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand and experience the inner world of leadership.”
—Barbara Dalle Pezze, PhD, Intelligent Leadership
Master Certified Coach and author
“Masterfully written from the heart, this book is a must-read for leaders who are willing to be vulnerable, seeking a breakthrough in their potential, and on a hunt to become the person they must become. I intend to include this book as a key part of the curriculum for emerging leaders as part of Loyola University Maryland's Leadership Essentials Program.”
—Lori Raggio, president, Inspire Greatness Coaching and Consulting, LLC
“Mattone has created a leadership book that will be used by generations to come. No matter where in the world you live or work this book will be your go-to guide.”
—Nick Roud, executive coach
“The Intelligent Leader is without a doubt the go-to guide for those at the high point of their careers as well as those just embarking on their leadership journey. John really highlights the importance of leaving your legacy that will empower all leaders to rethink their primary aim and focus.”
—Terry Powell, founder, The Entrepreneur's Source
“Leaders are the individuals within their organizations and communities who have the farthest reach, most impact, a great degree of influence, and the ability to drive culture. And John Mattone's new book, “The Intelligent Leader,” is a world-class resource that defines the road map and emotional blueprint for any leader to be successful, regardless of the business or industry they are in! This is a must-read for any leader, at any stage, who wants to tap into and unlock their true potential!”
—Dr. Mike Smith, CEO, Smith Research & Development, LLC
“John Mattone knows what great leadership is. His newest book provides a road map for anyone who chooses the journey to become a better leader. This book provides a process, compelling examples, exercises, and igniter behaviors for how we can improve ourselves and make a bigger impact for all—the organizations we work in, the networks we participate in, and our families and friends. If you want to be a better leader, simply defined as an example for others to follow, then read The Intelligent Leader and chart your path to a bigger future.”
—Lance Hazzard, author, Accelerating Leadership
“Mattone's seven dimensions of Intelligent Leadership inspire Entrepreneurs to lead the future in a practical way with clear vision through examples. I personally encourage Entrepreneurs to read this book many times.”
—Hytham El Saiid, founder and CEO, Crowze
“When it comes to leadership, there is always a debate about whether its naturally intuitive or acquired by practice. Hence, it can be developed and improved. Mr. Mattone reveals attractively the methods of effective leadershipthrough a great mixture between passion and realism. His book is a must read, for all kinds of leaders from different fields.”
—Sara Al Adba, director, Qatar First Bank
“What struck me most about this book is the care and authenticity that John brings to the realm of leadership development. The insights he shares are ones that he has worked hard for—throughout his personal and professional career—and he presents them in a way that is relatable (and actionable) to anyone who wants to become more or better. These are truly gems of wisdom gleaned from John's life and the lives of the many great leaders he's worked with over the years.”
—Rashid Mohammed Al Naimi, CEO, Doha Business Solutions
“This remarkable book will teach you what true leadership feels like from the inside out and what you need to do to get to where you want to go. You'll learn the dynamics of the human heart, mind, and soul—including your own. Destined to become a leadership classic!”
—Jason Jennings, author, The Reinventors and Think BIG, Act Small
“Before you take the next step on your journey to exemplary leadership, pack a copy of John Mattone's brilliant new book The Intelligent Leader. It is an essential guide to exploring the most important question every leader must answer: Who are you and who do you want to become? The Intelligent Leader is a refreshing, rare, and wise book that espouses some too-often overlooked vital qualities of leadership—qualities such as vulnerability, duty, and humility. It is also a practical book chocked full of engaging examples and useful action steps. The Intelligent Leader will inspire you, encourage you, and enlighten you. I highly recommend that you take to heart Mattone's sage advice and counsel.”
—Jim Kouzes, co-author, The Leadership Challenge;
Executive Fellow, Leavey School of Business
“John Mattone cuts to the chase and gets to the roots of high performance and effective leadership. It all starts with growing and maturing your Inner Core. In his new book, Mattone shares the wisdom that comes from a career spent coaching and mentoring CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, including Steve Jobs. He is not content with sharing some quick fix, or some smart skills. He knows that unless you do the inner work, your results will not be consistent and you will not develop and express your greatest potential into the world. This book gives you access to the essence of great leadership, whether you are at the top of your career or just at the beginning. He does so in an engaging, convincing, and deep way. This is essential reading, if you are committed to leave a dent in the universe and experience fulfillment in your career and life.”
—Aldo Civico, executive coach
“Becoming a good leader is possible. It is not a quality reserved for a few. I have always been surprised by the ease with which John helps people to develop their leadership skills. With The Intelligent Leader, John has outdone himself. It is a brilliant and simple guide based on seven very powerful secrets that are necessary to become a good leader–an intelligent leader. This book is inspirational and guides you through a soul search on a voyage to leadership”
—Armando Uriegas, president, LatAm Zone, Nielson
“The Intelligent Leader is like a report from the frontlines of the effort to unlock our human potential, and John Mattone is the seasoned correspondent who is sharing everything he's learned. This book is comprehensive, authentic, practical, and often-moving. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to be a better example for others to follow.”
—Kate Sweetman, founding principal, SweetmanCragun Group; co-author,
Reinvention: Accelerating Results in the Age of Disruption
“John Mattone has advised some of the world's most influential leaders. In his new book, he shares his latest thought-provoking and heartfelt insights on how to become a better leader and positively impact the lives of others in order to create a better future for generations to come.”
—Christopher G. Lis, former president and COO, Lexington Health Network
“Don't be fooled by all of the hyperbolic and ‘quick tip' advice for leadership success. Great leadership starts and ends with a good, hard look in the mirror and a willingness to do what it takes to improve—for your own sake and for the sake of those around you. That's what Intelligent Leadership is all about. This book will take you as far (and as deep) as you want to go.”
—Sheikha Kaltham Al Thani, head of business application and systems,
Qatar Development Bank
“So many people think they want to be leaders, but few do what it takes to succeed. The Intelligent Leader is a perfect guidebook for those who want to do the inner work and take the kind of responsibility required to lead and inspire others.”
—Prof. Ibrahim Alnaimi, undersecretary, Ministry of Education and
Higher Education, Qatar
“This book is for existing and aspiring leaders, laying out a subtle-yet-simple path that anyone can take to be the kind of person that inspires others to follow their lead. John Mattone's guided philosophy with real-world examples unlocks potential of great leadership values.”
—H.E. Dr. Rania Al Mashat, Minister of Tourism, Arab Republic of Egypt
“Few people understand the essence of the leadership journey as well as John Mattone. He is a master of helping you see directly in your own life where your opportunities to grow lie, and how to pursue that growth. This book should be required reading for every MBA student in the US and the World.”
—Vegar Wiik, Executive Director, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Names: Mattone, John, author.
Title: The intelligent leader : unlocking the 7 secrets to leading others
and leaving your legacy / John Mattone.
Description: First Edition. | Hoboken : Wiley, 2020. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019024555 (print) | LCCN 2019024556 (ebook) | ISBN
9781119566243 (hardback) | ISBN 9781119566328 (adobe pdf) | ISBN
9781119566335 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Leadership. | Executive ability.
Classification: LCC HD57.7 .M3932 2019 (print) | LCC HD57.7 (ebook) | DDC
658.4/092--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019024555
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019024556
To Marshall, for all that you have brought to the world of coaching, leadership, and beyond, and for being a tremendous inspiration to me.
Whether you’re an established executive or manager looking to take your leadership game to the next level, or someone looking to move into a position of leadership in the future, you’ll find no better guide for your journey than John Mattone. John is one of the most respected executive coaches in the world and a pioneer in leadership development. He has helped some of the world’s most influential leaders to unlock their own potential. And he can do the same for you, if you let him.
What makes John’s approach to leadership development so unique—and powerful—is his emphasis on what he calls the “inner core,” which is a new term for good old-fashioned things like character, values, and beliefs. He is steadfast in his belief that truly great leadership starts on the inside and works its way out. It takes courage. It takes vulnerability. And it takes heart. Leadership isn’t just a sexy set of techniques or inspiring ideas. It’s the product of deep work that you forge at the level of your heart and soul.
The Intelligent Leader may be John’s most important work to date. In it, he distills the work he’s done with thousands of clients over the years into an accessible, warm, and intimate exploration into what it takes to lead, empower, and inspire others. The book lays out his Seven Dimensions of Intelligent Leadership, which are both the universal qualities of great leadership as well as actionable principles that you can use to evolve yourself. While John’s work is inspired by his work with business executives, this isn’t just a business book. As John makes clear, we all have leadership potential within us and cultivating it will help us to lead more influential, fulfilling, and enriching lives.
As you embark on your journey into the book, one bit of advice: Remember that change is hard. It often takes longer than you think, and it can be difficult. Don’t just read John’s book; put it into practice. Pick up the tools he offers, and take personal ownership of your success. Remember, real change is not a one-time thing, and it requires real effort. Being an authentic leader, both inside and out, is a lifetime pursuit!
Life is good.
Marshall Goldsmith
Since 2013, when I published Intelligent Leadership, a lot has changed—in my own life and career, and in the world. Personally, I am honored to have witnessed an explosion of interest in my work, specifically the Intelligent Leadership model. I’ve worked with companies—big and small—and executives—famous and unknown—on nearly every continent. I’ve spoken at conferences and in boardrooms. I’ve even been named one of the world’s top executive coaches. I don’t bring this up to brag about my success or to impress you. I truly mean that. To me, the growing popularity of my work is a statement less about me personally, and more about the state of leadership in the world today.
One of the things that makes Intelligent Leadership (IL) unique—the true secret of IL—is the emphasis it puts on the inner work required to develop your leadership capacities. I’ve found that in order to achieve the results that most leaders are after—improved performance, career advancement, personal and company success, and leaving a lasting legacy—leaders must be willing to find the courage to “look under the hood” and start to understand just what it is that makes them tick. Then everyone must do the work to unleash their inner light so that it shines through to every dimension of their lives. We will be exploring this in great depth throughout the coming pages.
I’ve found that this depth approach is, for the most part, missing in leadership circles today. Many people either don’t take the appropriate time, or don’t have the knowledge or interest, to seriously explore their interiors. They tend to skip over all of that in order to get to the quick, easy, results-oriented stuff. But in doing so, they ignore the crucial value that this kind of self-knowledge has on your ability to lead. The great leaders that I’ve met all know this. It is, I believe, what makes them great.
To be honest, I think this demand for depth is at the heart of the “leadership gap” that so many people have written about over the past couple of decades. Members of an entire generation of leaders, people my age (I’m sixty-two) and older, haven’t put a sufficient emphasis on getting to know themselves, and for good reason. They’ve been primarily focused on building and growing companies, getting the job done, and delivering results to the many people who depend on them. Many of these great men and women have learned their leadership lessons through a lifetime of experience, but haven’t necessarily had the language or the tools to pass on to the next generation what they themselves understand implicitly. The aspiring leaders of today, Gen X and Gen Y, are much more open to the kind of inner work that’s at the core of IL, but they don’t have teachers to teach them. There aren’t enough roadmaps out there for potential leaders to prepare themselves, at the level of the heart, mind, and soul, for what great leadership really entails.
That is why I wanted to write this book. The Intelligent Leader is meant to be a roadmap for understanding the true essence of the leadership journey. My first IL book was an attempt to introduce the world to the work I’ve been doing to integrate the enneagram into a leadership tool that I call the Mattone Leadership Enneagram Inventory (MLEI). It was full of workbooks and activities to help you explore your unique strengths and weaknesses as a human being and a leader. It’s been very useful to many people. But since the publication of that book, new principles have emerged in my work. I’ve started to see patterns emerge in the many leaders I’ve worked with, and from those patterns, I believe I’m starting to see the picture of the true essence of great leadership, both how it feels on the inside and how it looks from the outside.
In The Intelligent Leader, I will share all of that with you, the reader. It is meant to guide you on a journey into the heart of leadership, exploring its many dimensions, and then stand with you as you peer back out, through your soul and personality, to see what the world looks like from that new vantage point. If I achieve my goal with this book, it will give you a direct experience of what truly great leadership feels like, from the inside out, so that you have a sense of what you’re shooting for, and what you need to do to get there.
The world today needs leaders to have this new kind of intelligence. They need to understand the subtle dynamics of the human heart, mind, and soul, starting with their own. They need to be rooted in powerful self-knowledge and to cultivate a rare but achievable ability to bring about the same rootedness in those around them. You could call it Enlightened Leadership, or Deep Leadership, but I prefer “Intelligent.” It speaks to just how savvy you can become if you put in the time to learn this approach.
I truly believe that this kind of Intelligent Leadership is not a luxury but a requirement for leaders today. And it’s my honor to share with you what I consider to be the secrets to becoming the great leader you have the potential to be.