Leading Out Loud: Inspiring Change Through Authentic Communications

"This book will make you laugh, cry, and squirm. It will inspire you and it may even scare you. Implementing Terry's advice may require far more courage and discipline than anything else you do as a leader, but if you want to know and do something for yourself that will enrich your character and engage your spirit, then read and use the ideas in Leading Out Loud."
— Jim Kouzes, coauthor, The Leadership Challenge, chairman emeritus of the Tom Peters Company

"Pearce has written a gem. Leading Out Loud is a superb, enjoyable and practical road map on how we can become effective inspirers of change. Read it and act on it!"
— Costas Markides, Robert Bauman Professor of Strategic Leadership, London Business School

"Terry Pearce reminds us of the engaging storyteller, or the favorite college teacher. But that's just the point. He teaches us to discard the rhetoric of many public communications, replacing it with something far more powerful: the simple and genuine human voice. Leading Out Loud's teachings will change its readers as well as those they lead."
— John Hammergren, chairman and CEO, McKesson Corporation

"Leading Out Loud is clear, compelling and comprehensive. Pearce eloquently demonstrates that authenticity is the fundamental success trait of both men and women leaders."
— Dr. Judy B. Rosener, professor, Graduate School of Management, University of California, Irvine and author Ways Women Lead

"Drawing from a wealth of personal experience and the perspective of his unique skybox on leadership practices and effective leaders, Terry Pearce gives an authentic voice to the to the critical role of leaders in realizing change. This book is like a GPS system for leaders. It points the way, giving gives clear and practical advice on how to achieve results through clear and deep communication."
— Jim Hornthal, founder, Preview Travel, Lester Fellow for Entrepreneurship, University of California, Berkeley

"Leading Out Loud will become an oft-turned-to handbook when stress is high and the outcome of particular communication is critical."
— Mel Bergstein, Founder and CEO, Diamond Cluster

As the cycle of change increases its speed, leadership communication is becoming more important than ever. Since the original publication of Leading Out Loud in 1995, the development of a leader's message has become as critical to success as the delivery of that message. In this new and revised edition of his highly praised work, Terry Pearce explains how the events of recent years, including the information revolution, worldwide focus on terrorism, and the revelation of corporate scandals, have significantly increased the importance of authenticity in leadership to build loyalty in organizations.

This new edition focuses on the source of a message for change, its development as a platform for leadership communication, and its many forms of expression from speeches to e-mails, memos, and even informal "water cooler" conversation. Pearce shows leaders in business, politics, and nonprofits how to communicate their values and vision to inspire commitment; he provides tools and examples from well-known leaders as well as less-known but effective change agents. Leading Out Loud gives readers concrete methods for improving their own communication by guiding them to do the internal work necessary for creating an honest and compelling vision, and by demonstrating how readers can find their authentic voice and articulate their messages with confidence.

People make commitments, says Pearce, to causes they value and to people they respect and trust. An authentic voice and an inclusive perspective are requisites for any leader who would inspire change. Trust is built by communicating from both the mind and the heart, speaking directly to the minds and hearts of others, listening to their response, and respecting their points of view. All leaders will benefit from Pearce's wisdom, as will anyone else who wants to inspire positive change through others.

Soundview Executive Book Summaries

A major role of any leader is inspiring change, and communication expert Terry Pearce has taught some of the most important corporate and elected leaders of today how they can develop a communication platform from which they can help their organizations cope with and embrace major changes. In this new and revised edition of Leading Out Loud, Pearce shows leaders how they can achieve great results by examining their own core beliefs and values, and using their own self-awareness and courage to drive them to success. Copyright © 2004 Soundview Executive Book Summaries

In November, 2002, BusinessWeek magazine called Terry Pearce the "eminence grise" of executive coaches. He is the founder and president of Leadership Communication, a coaching and consulting company with select clients that include CEOs, senior public officials, and elected leaders. He also teaches leadership courses at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business and the London Business School, and is a frequent keynote speaker in the United States and abroad. Pearce is coauthor (with David Pottruck) of the best-selling Clicks and Mortar: Passion-Driven Growth in an Internet-Driven World (Jossey-Bass, 2000).