About ConantLeadership
ConantLeadership is a mission-driven community of leaders and learners who are championing leadership that works in the 21st century.
We were founded in 2011 by Doug Conant, a globally-renowned Fortune 500 CEO with 50 years of leadership experience at world-class global companies.
Our purpose is making meaning, not money. Our Founder Doug does not take a salary, and all profits after covering our operating costs are donated to organizations whose leadership is moving the world forward. As part of our commitment to leaders, we offer a high-impact suite of leadership resources and training designed to help you meet the unique challenges of this decade and beyond.
>>Start your BLUEPRINT journey
>>Explore our leadership resources
>>Learn about our signature leadership development program, The BLUEPRINT Boot CampÂ
Our Leadership Premise
The 21st century is unfolding at an unprecedented pace with exponential complexity. Â Mastering the craft of leadership in the new millennium demands an understanding of both enduring leadership principles and innovative, people-first leadership practices for delivery of superior performance. We are dedicated to an evolved leadership approach that is:
-
Tough-minded on standards AND kind-hearted with people
-
Devoted to the spirited pursuit of high performance
-
Focused on continuous improvement
-
Committed to creating value for all stakeholders
-
Vigilant about winning in the workplace to win in the marketplace
-
Steeped in the spirit of “How Can I Help?”
-
Humble, brave, and authentic
What Is Leadership?
Leadership is the art and science of influencing others in a specific direction. While this definition can apply to hierarchies, it is not limited to a hierarchical view of the world of work; it applies to collaborative work as well. Today, leadership is about influencing people in any direction – up, down, or sideways.
There are ten key building blocks to “leadership that works” as advanced in Doug Conant’s WSJ bestselling book, THE BLUEPRINT. And we’ve added two new tenets this year to meet the current moment. Every leader we’ve observed or studied who produced sustainable results – no matter how wildly different their temperaments, beliefs, or skill sets – had some mixture of these elements in their approach. Although there are an infinite number of pillars that contribute to effective leadership, if you take care of these twelve, everything else takes care of itself.
12 TENETS OF
‘LEADERSHIP THAT WORKS’
The Higher Ground Leadership Success System is guided by 12 core tenets: the values that anchor how a leader shows up every day. Doug has refined these over 50 years. This year, in the spirit of continuous improvement, he’s added two new values to meet the current moment.
01 High Performance
Leaders must perform. There are three Cs of high-performing teams: Competence, Character, and Chemistry. And three Qs of leadership intelligence: IQ, EQ, and FQ.
02 Abundance
Leaders must advance an abundance mindset that rejects the tyranny of “or” and embraces the genius of “and.”
03 Inspire Trust
To inspire trust, leaders must honor all parties, do what they say they’re going to do, uphold high ethical standards, and model the behavior they expect from others.
04 Purpose
Leaders must craft an aspirational “calling” that resonates with all parties, delivering both economic and social value.
05 Courage
Leaders must display the courage of their convictions. To do so, they must be deeply tethered to those convictions.
06 Integrity
Leaders must “Declare Themselves” so that constituents understand their beliefs and intentions — then match their behavior to those declarations.
07 "Grow or Die" Mindset
Leaders must champion a learning culture, push for continuous improvement, invest in growth, and hire people who will challenge the current paradigm.
08 Humility
The best leaders are expert connectors and listeners. Humility binds those two competencies. It’s also essential to understand that you’re not always the smartest person in the room.
09 "How Can I Help?"
When leaders learn to offer proactive support rather than operating in reactive mode, they can transform the organization. Four little words can change the energy of an entire workplace.
10 Have Fun
If work and leadership are serious all the time, it will be a slog for everyone. A leader must bring energy and vitality to the work every day and attend to their own needs so they have the capacity to meet the needs of their colleagues.
11 Creativity (NEW)
As the world changes rapidly, leaders must champion more creative solutions to new and complex problems and find ever-evolving means of innovation.
12 Kindness (NEW)
Leaders must be compassionate, unconditionally considerate, and generous in spirit. If the anxiety of the world increases, a leader’s kindness must expand in equal measure.
To learn more about incorporating the ten tenets into your leadership today, download your free chapter of The Blueprint and jump into a transformational journey that can help you maximize your impact, get unstuck, and change your life.
The journey is challenging, and the demands are formidable, but when leaders are equipped with the tools for continuously authentically improving their leadership profile, the level of fulfillment can be profound and abiding. We promise to help you live leadership that works in the here and now and to empower you to influence people with honor.
ConantLeadership's Commitment to Philanthropic Giving
In service to our mission of championing leadership that works, ConantLeadership has surpassed 1 Million dollars in philanthropic giving.
Learn More
“Tremendous! A literal masterpiece on leadership.”
– Stephen M. R. Covey
Author of The Speed of Trust
The Blueprint
6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights
By Douglas Conant with Amy Federman
Upcoming Events
Have Doug Speak at Your Event
Doug works collaboratively with event organizers to customize his material for each audience.